Abstract

Since the 2008 workshop, a remarkable number of developments have taken place in the area of alternative aviation fuels including the rigorous assessment and approval of an entirely new category of synthetic fuels.

A number of high profile demonstration flights have also wetted the appetite for airlines and  manufacturers to look at satisfying the dual demands to:

a) Reduce environmental impact, especially CO2 emissions

b) Diversify supply to include non-crude oil sources

Despite this apparent enthusiasm for alternatives, the economical case and true life-cycle carbon abatement potential remains poorly understood. During the presentation, the concept of the carbon abatement curve will be introduced to put into context the scope and equivalent carbon cost for some new fuels relative to other abatement measures available to the industry in engine/aircraft technology, operations and infrastructure. The presentation will use the Gas-to-Liquids process as a case study on the typical 30-year development cycle from lab scale development to a world scale plant.

The presentation will also give some insights into the ongoing jet fuel research efforts within Shell and in collaboration with EU research consortia SWAFEA and Alfa-Bird (FP7) as well as the Qatar synthetic fuels consortium.

Biography

Scott Hartman holds a DPhil in Organic Chemistry from New College, University of Oxford and a MChem from King’s College, University of London.

In 2001, following his undergraduate studies, he joined the pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline, working in the area of Anti-depressant drug development in Harlow, UK.  He returned to academia studying his Doctorate in Asymmetric Synthesis of Natural Products, between 2002-5.  This was followed by a stint working in London, for a strategy consultancy until 2007.  In February 2007 he joined Shell Global Solutions, working in the area of Aviation Fuels Technology at Shell Technology Centre, Thornton. 

During his first role as a Fuels Scientist he contributed to the certification of semi synthetic GTL jet fuel and helped develop analytical tools for the detection of FAME in jet.  Since February 2009 he has been based in Westhollow Technology Centre, Houston managing US based alternative Aviation fuel programmes.

As recently as April, he started a new role in the US B2B Technology Business, covering Aviation, Commercial Fuels, Marine and Bitumen. The new role involves managing Shell’s B2B Technology research programmes, throughout the Americas.