Singapore, Feb 04, 2010: A*STAR’s Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences (ICES) from Singaore is entering into a collaborative project with EADS, a global leader in aerospace and defence, to investigate the conversion of algae oil to kerosene for jet fuel.

 

The agreement has been signed by Dr. PK Wong, Deputy Director (Research) of ICES and Mr. Yann Barbaux, Head of EADS Innovation Works, witnessed by representatives from both parties. This collaboration is a follow up on the Master Research Collaboration Agreement (MRCA) signed by EADS and A*STAR on 20 February 2008.

 

The objective of this 12 month collaboration is to assess the potential for microalgae to be a renewable source of fuel for aircraft and to investigate the conversion of algae oil to kerosene for use as jet fuel.

 

Air transportation is a vital contributor to development and to global economic growth. The aviation sector accounts for 2-3 per cent of man-made CO₂ emissions, and although this may be a small proportion, EADS recognises that growth in air transportation must be sustainable. So far, fuel burn has been kept down by improving aircraft and engine efficiency and a more radical solution is the use of bio-fuels made from sustainable and renewable sources such as algae.

 

Mr. Yann Barbaux, Head of EADS Innovation Works, said, “As a systems architect of airplanes, it is our responsibility to foster research on biofuels, even if we are not directly involved in the energy business. This collaboration with A*STAR will add the impressive skills, efficiency and determination of the Singaporean research and technology community to our efforts.”

 

Dr Keith Carpenter, Executive Director of ICES, said, “We hope that we can prove to the world that microalgae can be the solution for much cheaper and much more efficient source of fuel that can benefit the aviation industry and make air travel more environmentally sustainable.”