During last week’s trip to Brazil, I was introduced to one of the lesser known members of the Embraer family: The EMB-202A Ipanema.
This awkward looking green-painted crop duster is a 40 year-old design with a 21st century fuel tank. Over 1000 of these aircraft have been built since 1973. What makes the Ipanema so special? It runs on hydrated ethyl alcohol fuel, better known as ethanol. Or as it’s known in Brazil as homegrown 100% Alcool.
The fuel, which is derived from natively grown sugar cane, is converted into alcohol. In a world where oil is well above the $100 barrel mark, sugar cane based ethanol is two to three times cheaper than 100 octane LL avgas. Ethanol, unlike 100LL, has a lower CO2 output and no lead content. The increased oxygen content of the fuel even gives a 7% horsepower boost.
There are downsides though. First, the 4% water content increases maintenance costs due to risk of corrosion in the fuel system. Also, the fuel has less energy content by volume so the useful range would be less on the same tank of 100 octane low lead avgas. Yet, even with the increased risk to the fuel system, according to Embraer, the Ipanema has delivered a 38% reduction in direct operating cost by running on ethanol.
Embraer has built 40 out-of-the-box ethanol ready Ipanemas, and has converted and additional 150. The engine received certification to run on ethanol first in October 2004, followed by the airframe in March of 2005.
When looking at the specifications of the Ipanema, I couldn’t help but see the potential for the US General Aviation market. The engine that powers the Ipanema is made by the same company (Lycoming) that makes the engine for the small piston Cessna line. Imagine a 38% reduction in your aircraft’s operating costs. Those are margins that are good for flight schools and good for private pilots.
US trade restrictions prohibit the importation of sugar cane ethanol from Brazil to encourage (read: protect) corn based ethanol produced domestically. As a result, the price of corn has gone through the roof causing meat and dairy prices to rise, hitting the consumer in the pocket book at the grocery story just as the economy is slowing. Sugar ethanol is more efficient than corn ethanol because more energy is preserved in the production process. To simplify, having to go from corn to sugar to alcohol is more difficult than just going from sugar to alcohol.
Any change in regulations to encourage General Aviation to use sugar based ethanol would necessitate the implementation of an innovative policy solution. A coalition of engine and airframe manufacturers, airports and regulatory agencies would be absolutely essential to get the system up and running. The result would stimulate General Aviation, further environmental protection, and is a net gain for consumers buying groceries.
It’s time to take a good, hard look at Brazilian sugar based ethanol as the biofuel of choice for the general aviation community.
Comments (2)
Keep in mind that sugar cane ethanol is different than corn ethanol we have here in the US. Corn ethanol requires more energy to manufacture than it produces. It's only popular in the US due to heavy government subsidies it receives.
Posted by Mark Phillips | March 21, 2008 10:17 PM
Posted on March 21, 2008 22:17
Don't believe all the hype from naysayers who claim ethanol production uses more energy than it creates. Since companies make money producing ethanol, the negative-energy-sum argument is obviously false. Still, using food crops to make fuel is not a long term answer. Cellulosic ethanol solves that problem by making everything from cardboard to grass clippings a source of ethanol. Range Fuels is building a 100 million gallon/year cellulosic ethanol plant right now in Treutlan County, Georgia. The company has tested 30 cellulose sources and says that waste from Georgia's renewable forest industry could supply up to 2 billion gallons of ethanol per year. Six other companies are hot on their heels with cellulosic plants in development. That much domestic energy would dramatically reduce energy costs and help us extricate our nation from violent Middle Eastern politics.
Posted by Bruce | March 24, 2008 6:59 PM
Posted on March 24, 2008 18:59