Aviation biofuels take center stage at biomass energy group meeting

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Research opportunities to extend biofuels beyond E85 and biodiesel and into the aviation sector will be up for discussion on Jan. 8 at an Indiana Biomass Energy Working Group meeting.

The meeting, hosted by Purdue Extension, is open to the public and will include presentations from Purdue University biofuels and aviation experts. It runs from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Beck Agricultural Center at Purdue's Agronomy Center for Research and Education, 4540 U.S. Route 52, West Lafayette.

"Opportunities for biomass feedstocks are evolving for creating biofuels to be used in the aviation industry, and there has been quite a push for that research at Purdue," said Chad Martin, Purdue Extension renewable energy specialist. "When most people think of biofuels they think of E85 and biodiesel, so we want to bring an awareness to Indiana about the possibilities with aviation."

Presenters will be Wally Tyner, Purdue Extension agricultural economist who will give a Renewable Fuels Standard and post-election policy update, and Maureen McCann of the Purdue Energy Center who will discuss Purdue research efforts in biofuels development and give an overview of C3Bio, a biofuels research organization in Purdue’s Discovery Park.

A representative of Purdue's Aviation Technology department will discuss ongoing work in aviation biofuels.

Members of the Ohio BioProducts Institute also will attend.

Meeting registration is $25 per person and includes lunch. Registration is available online through Purdue Extension's The Education Store at https://mdc.itap.purdue.edu/item.asp?item_number=CW-ABE-1#.UMoZYo7_QyE and is due by Jan. 4.

Sponsors are Purdue Extension, the Indiana Office of Energy Development, the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture's Bioenergy CAP and USDA Rural Development.

The Indiana Biomass Energy Working Group is an open organization. Members include representatives of industry, state and federal government, trade organizations, universities and interested citizens. The group plans educational programming and networking events to help promote the growth of Indiana's renewable energy industry.

Writer: Jennifer Stewart, 765-494-6682, jsstewar@purdue.edu

Source: Chad Martin, 765-496-3964, martin95@purdue.edu

Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Keith Robinson, robins89@purdue.edu
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