Non-Subscriber Extract
USAF launches new biofuel testing programme
By Caitlin Harrington
04 February 2009
The US Air Force (USAF) is launching a new synthetic fuels programme to fly its fleet on a jet fuel mix that contains biofuel.
The service is working toward an ultimate goal of certifying its fleet to use "hydro-treated renewable jet fuel" (HRJ) by about 2013.
HRJs are biofuels derived from oils and fats, which can come from products such as animal fat, jatropha and camelina oil and algae.
USAF officials are expecting to issue a request for proposals in the second quarter of 2009 to purchase two types of HRJ biofuels for aircraft testing. The buyer would be the Defense Energy Support Center (DESC) at Fort Belvoir in Virginia.