ACRP Report 83: Assessing Opportunities for Alternative Fuel Distribution Programs

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Abstract

Increasingly, airports and their tenants are examining the potential to introduce alternative fuels, including alternative jet fuel, at their facilities. Airports, however, may lack the information and analytical tools to evaluate the business case for implementing alternative fuel distribution programs. Many projects are under consideration around the country for production of alternative jet fuels. For example, there is an ongoing effort to bring alternative jet fuel production and distribution to the northwest region. The production of alternative jet fuel results in a variety of co-­products, such as green diesel, which leads to a desire to find markets for these co-­products. Given the concentrated demand for fuel products at or near airports, airports may have the potential to become distribution centers for the co-­products of alternative jet fuel production as well as other alternative fuels. Optimizing the potential for alternative fuel use from a broad business view can offer airports a new sustainable business and environmental opportunity, can promote aviation growth, and can create jobs at airports and in the region.

ACRP Report 83: Assessing Opportunities for Alternative Fuel Distribution Programs pro­vides a guidebook and toolkit for airports to introduce and market alternative fuels to their airport community, including tenants and consumers off airport. Alternative fuels considered include alternative jet fuel, green diesel, biodiesel, ethanol, compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and electricity. The guidebook identifies a variety of economic, environmental, and policy issues that need to be addressed to help make alternative fuel programs a success. This guidebook includes a step-by-step process to evaluate opportunities and constraints for alternative fuel distribution programs. The toolkit consists of two spreadsheets that help airport decision makers evaluate alternative fuels marketing and distribution programs.

Publication Date

2013

Source

Transportation Research Board/Airport Cooperative Research Program

Author

Bruno Miller, Donovan Johnson, Philip Jones, Terry Thompson, Michael Johnson, Meghan Hunt (Metron Aviation); Donald Schenk, Judith Driver, Gerald Biscardi, Jack Lavin, David Plavin (ACA Associates); Ryk Dunkelberg, Cody Fussell, Peter Van Pelt (Mead & Hunt, Inc.); Diana Glassman (Integration Strategy, Inc.); Hazel Peace, John Norris (Ricardo-AEA); Damon Fordham (PPC); Richard Altman (RCB Altman Associates, LLC)

Final/Updatable

Final