Regional Initiative with National Reach Working to Achieve Energy Security

The aviation industry is taking a significant step towards sustainability with the launch of the Midwest Aviation Sustainable Biofuels Initiative (MASBI) in 2012. This initiative brought together key players from across the biofuels value chain.

MASBI’s final report, published in 2013. For it outlined recommendations in five key areas to advance biofuel development. That’s including research and development. Also production and commercialization. Moreover financing and investment. In addition to policy and economic development. Finally and sustainability. One key recommendation was to improve feedstock production capacity and develop advanced feedstocks tailored for jet fuel production.

Cellulosic Fuel

MASBI also recommended advancing technologies to convert lignocellulosic biomass and finding ways to expedite ASTM and EPA approvals for new pathways.

MASBI’s advisory council incorporated various national biofuels experts and evaluated Midwest feedstock options, commercialization needs and policies, infrastructure requirements, and logistics. The group developed an actionable roadmap that allowed MASBI participants throughout the biofuels value chain to execute recommendations for the development and commercialization of aviation biofuels.

The potential for aviation biofuels is enormous, but government policies must provide long-term, reliable market signals to enable investment and production. Sustainability standards and advanced certification should also be incorporated to ensure that biofuels meet environmental standards.

MASBI Initiative

The MASBI initiative is a significant step forward. Especially in advancing sustainable aviation biofuel development in the Midwest region and beyond. By bringing together key players across the biofuels value chain is essential. For then MASBI has also created a roadmap for sustainable aviation biofuel development. One that can help make the industry more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

Conclusion

The aviation industry is a major user of aviation gasoline (avgas) and aviation diesel fuel (avgas-diesel). Both fuel types are made by the petroleum industry, which depending on their respective feedstock and processing methods can result in significant environmental impact. To meet the energy needs of the aviation industry, which requires significant amounts of energy worldwide, several nations have begun exploring sustainable aviation biofuels, including the United States, Canada, Mexico and the European Union.
The aviation industry is one of the most energy intensive industries in the world. The aviation industry consumes more aviation fuel per capita than any other industry. Aviation fuels are also among the highest-polluting fuels in the world. Thus, the aviation industry consumes considerable amounts of petroleum and other fossil fuels. The need to reduce aviation fuel consumption. Especially to mitigate the potential impacts of climate change on global aviation demand is pressing.

Source: Midwest Aviation Sustainable Biofuels Initiative, visit www.masbi.org., Chicago, May 23, 2012