A consortium of a Japanese university and several businesses is joining forces with the Queensland state government in Australia to mass-produce sustainable biofuel for airplanes. Sustainable aviation fuel project is going to play key role. The Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, known for its expertise in cultivating pongamia oil trees, plans to launch a demonstration project in northeastern Queensland by March.
As per the news report by The Asahi Shimbun, sources indicate that the initiative could attract investments of up to 100 billion yen ($674 million) from various businesses, including those not directly involved in the consortium.
Pongamia oil trees, native to Australia and Southeast Asia, produce seeds rich in oil that can be converted into sustainable aviation fuel. As airlines seek to secure sources of this fuel, its carbon dioxide emissions are estimated to be 80% lower than those of traditional jet fuel.
Currently, most biofuels are derived from used cooking oil, which is in limited supply. Pongamia trees, known for their drought resistance, have emerged as a promising alternative for aviation fuel.
As per the media report, Kazuhiro Chiba, president of the university, expressed optimism about the project’s potential for expansion, mentioning plans to cultivate trees over larger areas and develop new facilities for mass oil production. “We will consider planting these trees in expansive arid inland regions and former mining sites in Queensland,” he said. “Our vision includes a large-scale cultivation site equipped with extraction and production facilities, with significant involvement from Japanese businesses.”
The Queensland government is expected to support the university in securing land for the demonstration experiment. The two entities have previously collaborated under a partnership agreement in agriculture, food, and energy sectors.
Takeshi Adachi, who leads the Queensland government’s Japan team, emphasized the importance of this collaboration, noting it capitalizes on the strong relationship between the two nations. “This partnership can enhance the production of raw materials and establish an international supply chain for sustainable aviation fuel,” he said.
Although pongamia oil is unsuitable for cooking due to the presence of a small amount of toxins, it can yield up to 5 tons of oil per hectare, comparable to palm oil production.
In April, the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology launched the Open Platform to explore natural resources for sustainable aviation fuel, aiming to gain carbon dioxide reduction certification from an international organization.
Approximately seven companies have joined this initiative, including Eneos Corp., a major oil distributor, Sumitomo Corp., a leading trading house, and Revo International Inc., which specializes in collecting and recycling used cooking oil.
The demonstration project will cover between 10,000 and 100,000 hectares in Queensland, with several companies considering investments in facilities at the site, including one projected to cost tens of billions of yen.
In addition to pongamia oil, the university is also exploring other resources for sustainable aviation fuel.
