Do ethanol based jet fuels work?

[PeterNSteinmetz]

Biden administration details how producers of sustainable aviation fuel will get tax credits

The Biden administration is out with new guidelines for tax credits for producers of sustainable aviation fuel.

apnews.com

 

[Winthrop]

So it will be like automobile fuel where I have to pay extra for ethanol free gas so that I can get 30% better mileage.

 

[Nemo]

The article notes that "The Renewable Fuels Association, a trade group for the ethanol industry, said the Treasury guidelines “begin to unlock the door for U.S. ethanol producers and farmers to participate in the emerging market for sustainable aviation fuels."

This seems like a great way to make the US energy independent and create green jobs.

 

[rotorwrench]

Do ethanol based jet fuels work?

They would as the current approved SAF turbine fuels use similar components as ethanol. But keep in mind the current ethanol market wouldn't exist without governmental subsidies and tax credits. So bringing ethanol into the SAF market is more about economics than anything else. And increasing the use of ethanol in any form will only increase the costs of the same non-fuel items like the original ethanol mandates did years ago. However, given ethanol is more "carbon-intensive" to produce than equal petroleum based products, I think ethanol producers are simply looking for more markets in order to stay alive.

 

[Bob Noel]

The article notes that "The Renewable Fuels Association, a trade group for the ethanol industry, said the Treasury guidelines “begin to unlock the door for U.S. ethanol producers and farmers to participate in the emerging market for sustainable aviation fuels."

This seems like a great way to make the US energy independent and create green jobs.

operative word is "seems"