EERC creates first 100% renewable jet fuel

University of North Dakota's Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) has developed a "100% renewable domestic fuel that meets the JP-8 aviation fuel screening criteria." JP-8 is a jet fuel, or Jet Propellant, used by the U.S. military.

The EERC fuel was created from multiple renewable feedstocks. Some fuel samples were tested at a U.S. government facility, and all of the JP-8 specifications, such as freeze point, density, and flash point, were met by the EERC fuel samples.

"The technology takes advantage of feedstock chemistry to reduce capital and operating expenses. The feedstock-flexible process can use various crop oils and waste greases. The process can be tailored to produce combinations of propane, gasoline, jet fuel, and diesel that are identical to petroleum-derived fuels, enabling direct substitution with existing fuels and providing renewable options across the spectrum of fuel needs."

EERC Director Gerald Groenewold mentions that commercial aviation could benefit from this breakthrough as well.

"The EERC fuel was produced under a $4.7 million contract with the U.S. Department of Defense's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The Department of Defense is the largest consumer of petroleum in America, and securing a domestic fuel source is a key operational challenge for the military. Production is now under way to produce a large fuel sample for engine testing this fall."

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