Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

The Seattle Times

Business / Technology


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced

Originally published Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at 12:00 AM

E-mail article     Print view

Alternative airline fuels considered

Some of the world's biggest aviation companies are turning to alternative fuels — made from sources as diverse as hydrogen cells or...

BERLIN — Some of the world's biggest aviation companies are turning to alternative fuels — made from sources as diverse as hydrogen cells or algae — as soaring oil prices drive the search to build and fly more fuel-efficient planes.

Boeing and its European rival Airbus showed off their latest alternative-fuel projects Tuesday at the Berlin Air Show, held against the backdrop of oil prices that hit $135 a barrel last week.

Boeing displayed a one-seater demonstration airplane that can fly on batteries and hydrogen fuel cells. While the plane is still in the early stages, the company said that test flights have shown "a manned airplane can maintain a straight-level flight with fuel cells as the only power source."

Boeing said the technology could potentially power small manned and unmanned aircraft. But it said it "does not envision fuel cells will provide primary power for large passenger airplanes," although it will continue investigating their potential.

Airbus brought along a demonstrator version of its A320 passenger jet that uses fuel cells to power some of the aircraft's steering systems. The company said it sees great potential in fuel-cell applications.

Dutch airline KLM, meanwhile, said at the show that it had signed a contract with AlgaeLink for fuel made from algae for a pilot project whose first test flight is scheduled for this fall.

AlgaeLink plans to set up a pair of plants this year — in the Netherlands and Spain — and said its algae-based kerosene will be mixed with conventional fuel. But KLM's goal is to fuel its entire fleet with kerosene from algae and other plant-based oils.

Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

More Business & Technology headlines...

E-mail article Print view      Share:    Digg     Newsvine

advertising

UPDATE - 02:13 AM
EU nations' reality: Greece's woes are theirs, too

UPDATE - 02:51 AM
Greece leads markets higher amid EU rescue hopes

RealNetworks makes key play with Rhapsody spinoff

Alaska Air dropping Jones Soda beverages, going back to Coca-Cola

Lots of Buzz over Google latest bid at social networking

Advertising

Video

Marketplace

Open Houses

Find this weekend's open house listings.
Or search by location:

nwautos

Fatal crashes are down in Washington, and a national used-car database goes onlinenew
Associated Press Study: Fatal crashes down in Washington Last year Washington's roads were the scene of the fewest fatal crashes since 1955. According...
Post a comment

 
Most read
Most commented
Most e-mailed
 
 

Most viewed imagesMore

Advertising