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Honeywell’s UOP Joins Aviation and Academic Leaders to Accelerate Development and Availability of Sustainable Biofuels

Written by thomas · Filed Under Commercial 

September 26, 2008

thomas

UOP, Boeing and nine commercial airlines focus on biofuels derived from
second-generation feedstocks that do not compete for food and water
resources

DES PLAINES, Ill., Sept. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — UOP LLC, a
Honeywell (NYSE: HON) company, announced today that it has joined a group
of leading air carriers and Boeing (NYSE: BA) to accelerate the development
and commercialization of sustainable new aviation fuels.

With support and advice from world leading environmental organizations,
the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC),
the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group makes commercial aviation the
first global transportation sector to voluntarily drive verifiable
sustainability practices into its fuel supply chain.

The group’s charter is to enable the commercial use of renewable fuel
sources that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while lessening
commercial aviation’s exposure to oil price volatility and dependence on
fossil fuels. Airlines supporting the sustainable fuels initiative include
Air France, Air New Zealand, ANA (All Nippon Airways), Cargolux, Gulf Air,
Japan Airlines, KLM, SAS and Virgin Atlantic Airways. Collectively, they
account for approximately 15 percent of commercial jet fuel use.

“We welcome the aviation sector’s will to reduce their greenhouse gas
emissions, and appreciate their efforts to ensure the sustainability of
their biofuels sourcing,” says Jean-Philippe Denruyter, WWF Global
Bioenergy Coordinator and Steering Board Member of the Roundtable on
Sustainable Biofuels. “By teaming up with the Roundtable on Sustainable
Biofuels, the aviation sector can build on an existing solid
multi-stakeholder process that will reinforce this initiative.”

All group members subscribe to a sustainability pledge stipulating that
any sustainable biofuel must perform as well as, or better than,
kerosene-based fuel, but with a smaller carbon lifecycle. The user’s group
pledged to consider only renewable fuel sources that minimize biodiversity
impacts: fuels that require minimal land, water and energy to produce, and
that don’t compete with food or fresh water resources. In addition,
cultivation and harvest of plant stocks must provide socioeconomic value to
the local communities.

“The use of second-generation feedstocks is the only way that biofuels
will successfully make an impact on the growing demand for transportation
fuels without taxing valuable food, land and water resources,” said
Jennifer Holmgren, general manager for UOP’s Renewable Energy & Chemicals
unit. “We are proud to be a part of this team and are committed to
commercializing biofuels technologies that use second generation resources
to produce the highest quality fuel compatible with today’s infrastructure
and aircraft technology.”

The group has announced two initial sustainability research projects.
Assistant Professor Rob Bailis of Yale University’s School of Forestry &
Environmental Studies, through funding provided by Boeing, will conduct the
first peer-reviewed, comprehensive sustainability assessment of jatropha
curcas, to include lifecycle CO2 emissions and the socioeconomic impacts to
farmers in developing nations. Similarly, NRDC will conduct a comprehensive
assessment of algae to ensure it meets the group’s stringent sustainability
criteria.

Both species may potentially become part of a portfolio of biomass
based renewable fuel solutions that, through advanced fuel processing
methodologies developed by energy sector leaders such as UOP, can help
aviation diversify its fuel supply.

“This taskforce comes at just the right time to help airlines cut costs
and decrease their greenhouse gas emissions,” said Liz Barratt-Brown, NRDC
senior attorney. “If done right, sustainable biofuels could lower the
airlines’ carbon footprint at a time when all industries need to be moving
away from fuels with high levels of global warming pollution.”

UOP, a leading developer of refining technology, has already developed
process technology to convert natural oils and greases to military jet fuel
as part of a project funded by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects
Agency (DARPA). The process technology produces “green” jet fuel that is a
drop-in replacement for traditional kerosene-based jet fuel and meets all
the critical performance specifications for flight. This technology is also
viable for use in the production of jet fuel for commercial jets.

Honeywell International is a $38 billion diversified technology and
manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products
and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry;
automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty materials. Based in
Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell’s shares are traded on the New York,
London and Chicago Stock Exchanges. For additional information, please
visit http://www.honeywell.com.

UOP LLC, headquartered in Des Plaines, Illinois, USA, is a leading
international supplier and licensor of process technology, catalysts,
adsorbents, process plants, and consulting services to the petroleum
refining, petrochemical, and gas processing industries. UOP is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Honeywell International, Inc. and is part of
Honeywell’s Specialty Materials strategic business group. For more
information, go to http://www.uop.com.

This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning
of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements,
other than statements of fact, that address activities, events or
developments that we or our management intend, expect, project, believe or
anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are based on management’s assumptions and
assessments in light of past experience and trends, current conditions,
expected future developments and other relevant factors. They are not
guarantees of future performance, and actual results, developments and
business decisions may differ from those envisaged by our forward-looking
statements. Our forward-looking statements are also subject to risks and
uncertainties, which can affect our performance in both the near- and
long-term. We identify the principal risks and uncertainties that affect
our performance in our Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.

SOURCE Honeywell

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