Everyone’s favourite sauce (after tomato, chipotle, aioli, mayo and barbecue) is coming out of the kitchen and into the fuel tank as a greener petrol alternative through the Flying Kangaroo.
Qantas revealed plans over the weekend to replace its non-environmentally friendly jet fuel with mustard seed, which will significantly reduce the carrier’s carbon emissions.
Yes, mustard seed.
But don’t worry, it’s not the kind you eat.
World Fuel Services and Altair Fuels have reproduced a non-food, industrial type mustard seed called ‘Carinita’ into a high quality oil which will power Qantas’ new Dreamliner on flights between Australia and the US (making it the first bio-fuel flight between the two countries).
The carrier said it will work with Australian farmers to grow the commercial aviation biofuel, which in turn, will provide locals with additional annual income.
Qantas International CEO, Alison Webster said the airline is “constantly looking for ways to reduce carbon emissions” and opportunities to produce locally grown aviation biofuel.
“Our work with Agrisoma will enable Australian farmers to start growing today for the country’s biofuel needs of the future.”
Alison Webster, Qantas International Chief Executive
“The trans-Pacific biofuel flight is a demonstration of what can be achieved locally.”
In the long term, Qantas is hoping to be able to grow 400,000 hectares of carinata in Australia that could yield over 200 million litres of bio-jet fuel each year.
“This will support the development of a renewable jetfuel supply and bio-refinery in Australia to power our fleet and further reduce carbon emissions across our operations,” she added.
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