A towing tractor labeled "vehicle using biodiesel" at Yamagata Airport.
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Japan Airlines (JAL) is conducting a demonstration at Yamagata Airport using biodiesel fuel (BDF) made from a byproduct of rice oil production to power airport support equipment. It is the world's first airport trial using BDF derived from rice oil production.
The fuel is made from rice bran fatty acids, a solid byproduct generated during the rice oil manufacturing process. It is refined into high-purity BDF using an ion exchange resin method developed by Tohoku University.
On a rainy day at Yamagata Airport, a JAL Embraer 190 regional jet arrived at the boarding bridge as usual. A towing tractor then moved in to transport cargo and baggage containers from the aircraft. The only unusual sight was a sign on the front of the vehicle reading "vehicle using biodiesel."
JAL said the trial marks the first time BDF produced using this technology has been used at an airport. Some of the rice used in the oil production process was grown locally in Yamagata Prefecture, one of Japan's leading rice-producing regions.
Alternatives to Used Cooking Oil
JAL already uses BDF made from used cooking oil at 23 airports across Japan. However, as global demand for used cooking oil continues to rise, the airline is exploring alternative sources of biofuel.
Takaaki Sakamoto, an assistant manager in JAL's Ground Handling Planning Department, said Yamagata Airport was selected for the trial because its location in a basin exposes it to significant seasonal temperature changes, allowing the fuel to be tested under a range of weather conditions.
The airport's proximity to Tohoku University in Sendai, which developed the refining technology, was another factor.
"Biofuels made from used cooking oil are becoming increasingly difficult to secure, so it is important to explore other options," Sakamoto said.
The demonstration will continue through May next year. JAL will evaluate the tractor's performance, monitor any effects on the vehicle, and test the BDF supply system with the aim of eventually putting the fuel into practical use.
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(Read the article in Japanese.)
Author: Akimitsu Kikuchi, The Sankei Shimbun
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