There can be nothing sweeter than the feeling of getting away on holiday, but very soon the experience of flying overseas could get a whole lot sweeter.
With air travel seen as the environmental bad guy, firms are working to find a more sustainable and environmentally friendly way of powering their planes.
One of the newest innovations which is about to go into production is the sugarcane fuel.
Two airline firms, Boeing and Embraer have embarked on a joint venture with ICONE, a think tank, and a number of other organisations including WWF, Amyris – the fuel manufacturer – as well as the InterAmerican Development Bank.
Sugarcane has already been proven to be a viable alternative to traditional jet fuel, but with far lower carbon emissions, but the study is needed to establish how it would be possible to commercially fuel jet planes without raping the landscapes or ripping apart eco-systems as demand swells.
However, whilst sugarcane is an alternative source of potential eco-friendly fuel which is the most advanced in its research, it is by far the only option being considered to help clean up the skies.
Engines measures in horsepower could soon be a thing of the past, with cow or camel-power soon to take over in engines.
Scientists have discovered that a group of animals, known as the ruminates, which include cows, camels, deer, bison and moose amongst others may hold the key to producing a clean, eco-fuel. Ruminates have a special way of digesting their food which involves regurgitation and re-absorption. This means that trees and plants which the animals have eaten must be broken down by the enzymes in the ruminates’ stomachs in order to extract the energy and nutrients.
To date, scientists have been unable to harness the hidden power in plants but believe that by cloning the enzymes that ruminates use, they will be able to break down the plant life to use the fuel held in its cells.
The news about the advance in a cleaner type of fuel coincides with this year’s Eco Rally. Held for five years running in the UK, the rally showcases cars which are not as damaging to the environment and as well as providing information on cars already in production which run on electricity or are particularly green, the event also provides those with a proto-type the opportunity to show off their invention. Some of the green cars on display used a range of alternative, sustainable fuels which included wine and cheese.
And who said alcohol and cars were not a good combination…
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