What’s NEXT in Aviation Biofuels

In the Big Get-Together at ABLCNext in San Francisco, the heavyweights bring out the new aviation fuels

CAAFI, Boeing, Biofuels Digest and many others have arranged for perhaps the biggest and certainly most comprehensive get-together in the history of aviation biofuels.

On the agenda — every existing aviation biofuuels pathway lookd at from the very top — Amyris CEO John Melo on the DSHC Pathway; LanzaTech CEO Jennifer Hol;mgren and Byogy CEO Kevin Weiss on the ATJ Pathway; Virent CEO Lee Edwards on the SK/SAK APR Pathways and coverage of the existing HEFA pathway, too.

Plus, we look at the Navy program, and hear from the Department of Energy, the Department of Agriculture, and the FAA.

Plus, the landmark United-AltAir 15 million gallon buy — from the CEO of AltAir and the head of sustainable fuels at United and World Fuel Services.

And a look at the SkyNRG/KLM Alliance — again from the key players — in bringing aviation biofuels to market.

The program is part of this year’s ABLCNext conference in San Francisco, October 9-11, 2013. Complete details here.

The Agenda

Vision and Building Blocks for Enabling Full Aviation Biofuels Commercial Potential

A panel of leading government, aviation & biofuel industry executives describe the goals, directions, challenges and initiatives (gap fillers) enabling/impeding the rapid Commercialization of Aviation and Military alternative jet fuels.

Topics include: -Future of Aviation and Military Biofuels Federal Programs and Policies – Government “Farm to Fly” and other Programs – Challenges to Military and Aviation Biofuels

Programs Panelists include:

Steve Csonka, Executive Director, CAAFI
Chris Tindal, PE, CEM, Director for Operational Energy Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy (Invited)
U.S. Department of Energy, Speaker TBA
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Speaker TBA
Federal Aviation Administration, Speaker TBA

Moving Aviation Biofuels Certification Forward – The Pathways, The Standards and the Companies

Up the Qualification Ladder, Down the Cost Curve, Across the Valley of Death: Qualification, Partnerships, Commercial/Global Approaches

Several Producers are approaching ASTM International qualification of new pathways, and are on the cusp of being able to produce alternative jet fuel for the industry (seven current Task Forces, with four progressing to Research Report status).

Others will follow with additional approaches. Others are still working on cost effective approaches for currently qualified pathways. We discuss aspects of their experiences to date, and look ahead to commercialization strategies and remaining gaps (feedstock aggregation, removing blend walls, financing, pilot facilities, infrastructure development, partners, global approaches, etc.).

Moderator: Steve Csonka, Executive Director, CAAFI

Panelists include: James Rekoske, Renewable Energy and Chemicals General Manager, UOP Honeywell (HDCJ Pathway)
John Melo, CEO, Amyris (DSHC Pathway)
Jennifer Holmgren, CEO, LanzaTech (AJT Pathway)
Kevin Weiss, CEO, Byogy (AJT Pathway)
Lee Edwards, CEO Virent (SK/SAK APR Pathways)
Robert Ames, (Invited) Vice President, Aviation Biofuels, Solazyme (HEFA Pathway)

Creative Collaboration – Getting Aviation Biofuels to Market – The AltAir Project

United Airlines and World Fuel Services recently executed a definitive purchase agreement with AltAir Fuels to buy a minimum of 15 million gallons of cost-competitive, sustainable, advanced biofuels for use, among other places, at United’s LAX hub. This represents an historic milestone for aviation and biofuels, one which was 3+ years in the making.

With this strategic partnership, AltAir Fuels and its technology partner, UOP Honeywell, will retrofit part of an existing petroleum refinery to become a 30 million gallon, advanced biofuel refinery near Los Angeles, Calif. What does it take to bring together a diverse group of technology, supply chain, production and Off-Take partners to meet the challenges of actually getting Aviation Biofuels to market? We examine how creative partnering, flexible management and a clearly shared vision were motivating drivers which enabled this project to launch.The panel will address topics including: What challenges were encountered, and how were they overcome? How is risk shared among all the project participants? And, critical lessons learned.

Moderator: James Rekoske, Vice President and General Manager, Renewable Energy & Chemicals, Honeywell’s UOP;

Panelists include:

Tom Todaro, CEO AltAir Fuels;
Jimmy Samartzis, Managing Director, Global Environmental Affairs and Sustainability, United Airlines;
Robert Sturtz, Vice President, Business Development, World Fuel Services

Building Critical Relationships – Getting Aviation Biofuels to Market

Looking at a series of strategic partnerships bringing Aviation Biofuels to Market

Moderator: Bob Sturtz, World Fuels – The SkyNRG/KLM Alliance,

Speakers TBA – “Partnering with a Major” –
TheAmyris/Total Alliance, Speakers TBA

More on ABLCNext is here.