The airplane manufacturer Boeing has successfully tested Neste Oil's NEXBTL diesel fuel as a component of aviation fuel. The first test flight took place on the U.S. using a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and further testing is being planned.
The testing is part of the ecoDemonstrator program launched by Boeing in 2012 with the aim of investigating various technologies and materials to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. Neste Oil has been chosen by Boeing as one of its partners for the program. Neste Oil delivered regular winter grade NEXBTL diesel fuel, normally used in road vehicles, to Boeing's fuel supplier EPIC Aviation. EPIC Aviation then used the fuel as a component in their Green diesel supplied to Boeing. Renewable diesel fuel comprised 15% of the fuel used in one of the plane's two engines.
"The airplane performed as designed with the green diesel blend, just as it does with conventional jet fuel," said Capt. Mike Carriker, Chief Pilot Boeing Product Development and 777X. "This is exactly what we want to see in flight tests with a new type of fuel."
"Aviation is one of our target markets, and we were happy to be involved in this test. NEXBTL has already been used on approximately 1,200 regular flights, but the fuel was specifically manufactured as aviation fuel. The successful test flight was carried out using renewable diesel as a 15% component of fossil kerosene. The objective is that low blends of high-quality renewable diesel will be used in aviation fuels in the future," says Kaisa Hietala, Neste Oil's Executive Vice President of Renewable Products Business Area.
Neste Oil Corporation
Neste Oil Corporation is a refining and marketing company specializing in high-quality fuels for cleaner traffic. The company produces all of the most important oil products and is the world's leading supplier of diesels made of renewable raw materials. In 2013, the company's net sales stood at EUR 17.5 billion, and it employs some 5,000 people. Neste Oil shares are listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki.
Neste Oil has been accepted into the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. The company has also been on the Global 100 list of sustainable companies for several years in succession. CDP Forest has selected Neste Oil as one of the best companies taking care of their forest footprint in the oil and gas industry. www.nesteoil.com
About Boeing
Boeing is the world's largest aerospace company and the leading manufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft combined. Boeing provides products and support services to customers in 150 countries and is one of the largest U.S. exporters in terms of sales. Boeing employs more than 169,000 people across the United States and in more than 65 countries.