French renewables firm Global Bioenergies has delivered 200 liters of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for tests commissioned under the GENOPTAIRE project, which is funded by the French government defence procurement and technology agency (DGA).
The project aims to promote the technological advances in military platforms by making use of electric-powered transport and alternative fuels. Among the aims of the GENOPTAIRE project is the evaluation of the impact of biosourced components on engine performance in French Army land vehicles when combined with conventional aviation fuels.
The aviation fuel will be used in aircraft and land vehicles.
Representatives of the DGA and Military Staff involved in the project issued the following statement: “The batch delivered by Global Bioenergies will be tested first by the project participants (IFPEN, ONERA and SEO) in combination with fossil kerosene for physico-chemical analysis. Subsequently, the Military Staff’s operational energy department (EMA/SEO) plans to conduct engine trials.”
Global Bioenergies converts plant-derived resources into compounds used in the cosmetics industry, as well as the energy and materials sectors.
“Having our products assessed by the French Army is a major step forward in our trajectory,” Marc Delcourt, CEO of Global Bioenergies, said in a statement. “We imagine that converting local feedstocks into both civil and military transportation fuels could be of strategic interest for the country.”
Earlier this month, Global Bioenergies and oil giant Shell announced they had agreed to collaborate on the development and testing of low carbon road fuels.
The first phase of this agreement will evaluate new concepts based on high-octane gasoline components derived from bio-based feedstocks. The collaboration will see the two companies conduct a joint research study, to identify and develop manufacturing methods to produce the molecules required to create high-octane components.
Global bioenergies completed its demonstration plant in Leuna about six years ago (pictured).
