Below is the uncorrected machine-read text of this chapter, intended to provide our own search engines and external engines with highly rich, chapter-representative searchable text of each book. Because it is UNCORRECTED material, please consider the following text as a useful but insufficient proxy for the authoritative book pages.
A I R P O R T C O O P E R A T I V E R E S E A R C H P R O G R A M ACRP REPORT 83 TRANSPORTAT ION RESEARCH BOARD WASHINGTON, D.C. 2013 www.TRB.org Research sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration Subscriber Categories Aviationâ â¢â Energyâ â¢â Environment Assessing Opportunities for Alternative Fuel Distribution Programs Bruno Miller, Donovan Johnson, Philip Jones, Terry Thompson, Michael Johnson, Meghan Hunt Metron AviAtion Dulles, VA Donald Schenk, Judith Driver, Gerald Biscardi, Jack Lavin, David Plavin ACA AssoCiAtes New York, NY Ryk Dunkelberg, Cody Fussell, Peter Van Pelt MeAd & Hunt, inC. Tulsa, OK Diana Glassman integrAtion strAtegy, inC. New York, NY Hazel Peace riCArdo-AeA Warrington, Cheshire, UK John Norris riCArdo-AeA Harwell, Oxfordshire, UK Damon Fordham PPC McLean, VA Richard Altman rCB AltMAn AssoCiAtes, llC Wethersfield, CT
AIRPORT COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM Airports are vital national resources. They serve a key role in trans portation of people and goods and in regional, national, and inter national commerce. They are where the nationâs aviation system connects with other modes of transportation and where federal respon sibility for managing and regulating air traffic operations intersects with the role of state and local governments that own and operate most airports. Research is necessary to solve common operating problems, to adapt appropriate new technologies from other industries, and to introduce innovations into the airport industry. The Airport Coopera tive Research Program (ACRP) serves as one of the principal means by which the airport industry can develop innovative nearÂterm solutions to meet demands placed on it. The need for ACRP was identified in TRB Special Report 272: Airport Research Needs: Cooperative Solutions in 2003, based on a study spon sored by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The ACRP carries out applied research on problems that are shared by airport operating agencies and are not being adequately addressed by existing federal research programs. It is modeled after the successful National Coopera tive Highway Research Program and Transit Cooperative Research Pro gram. The ACRP undertakes research and other technical activities in a variety of airport subject areas, including design, construction, mainte nance, operations, safety, security, policy, planning, human resources, and administration. The ACRP provides a forum where airport opera tors can cooperatively address common operational problems. The ACRP was authorized in December 2003 as part of the Vision 100ÂCentury of Aviation Reauthorization Act. The primary participants in the ACRP are (1) an independent governing board, the ACRP Oversight Committee (AOC), appointed by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation with representation from airport operating agencies, other stakeholders, and relevant industry organizations such as the Airports Council InternationalÂNorth America (ACIÂNA), the American Associa tion of Airport Executives (AAAE), the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO), Airlines for America (A4A), and the Airport Consultants Council (ACC) as vital links to the airport community; (2) the TRB as program manager and secretariat for the governing board; and (3) the FAA as program sponsor. In October 2005, the FAA executed a contract with the National Academies formally initiating the program. The ACRP benefits from the cooperation and participation of airport professionals, air carriers, shippers, state and local government officials, equipment and service suppliers, other airport users, and research orga nizations. Each of these participants has different interests and respon sibilities, and each is an integral part of this cooperative research effort. Research problem statements for the ACRP are solicited periodically but may be submitted to the TRB by anyone at any time. It is the responsibility of the AOC to formulate the research program by iden tifying the highest priority projects and defining funding levels and expected products. Once selected, each ACRP project is assigned to an expert panel, appointed by the TRB. Panels include experienced practitioners and research specialists; heavy emphasis is placed on including airport pro fessionals, the intended users of the research products. The panels pre pare project statements (requests for proposals), select contractors, and provide technical guidance and counsel throughout the life of the project. The process for developing research problem statements and selecting research agencies has been used by TRB in managing cooper ative research programs since 1962. As in other TRB activities, ACRP project panels serve voluntarily without compensation. Primary emphasis is placed on disseminating ACRP results to the intended endÂusers of the research: airport operating agencies, service providers, and suppliers. The ACRP produces a series of research reports for use by airport operators, local agencies, the FAA, and other interested parties, and industry associations may arrange for work shops, training aids, field visits, and other activities to ensure that results are implemented by airportÂindustry practitioners. ACRP REPORT 83 Project 02Â36 ISSN 1935Â9802 ISBN 978Â0Â309Â25896Â8 Library of Congress Control Number 2013933502 © 2013 National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. COPYRIGHT INFORMATION Authors herein are responsible for the authenticity of their materials and for obtaining written permissions from publishers or persons who own the copyright to any previously published or copyrighted material used herein. Cooperative Research Programs (CRP) grants permission to reproduce material in this publication for classroom and notÂforÂprofit purposes. Permission is given with the understanding that none of the material will be used to imply TRB or FAA endorsement of a particular product, method, or practice. It is expected that those reproducing the material in this document for educational and notÂforÂprofit uses will give appropriate acknowledgment of the source of any reprinted or reproduced material. For other uses of the material, request permission from CRP. NOTICE The project that is the subject of this report was a part of the Airport Cooperative Research Program, conducted by the Transportation Research Board with the approval of the Governing Board of the National Research Council. The members of the technical panel selected to monitor this project and to review this report were chosen for their special competencies and with regard for appropriate balance. The report was reviewed by the technical panel and accepted for publication according to procedures established and overseen by the Transportation Research Board and approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council. The opinions and conclusions expressed or implied in this report are those of the researchers who performed the research and are not necessarily those of the Transportation Research Board, the National Research Council, or the program sponsors. The Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, the National Research Council, and the sponsors of the Airport Cooperative Research Program do not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturersâ names appear herein solely because they are considered essential to the object of the report. Published reports of the AIRPORT COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM are available from: Transportation Research Board Business Office 500 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 and can be ordered through the Internet at http://www.nationalÂacademies.org/trb/bookstore Printed in the United States of America
The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. On the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone is president of the National Academy of Sciences. The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Charles M. Vest is president of the National Academy of Engineering. The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, on its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg is president of the Institute of Medicine. The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academyâs purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone and Dr. Charles M. Vest are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National Research Council. The Transportation Research Board is one of six major divisions of the National Research Council. The mission of the Transporta- tion Research Board is to provide leadership in transportation innovation and progress through research and information exchange, conducted within a setting that is objective, interdisciplinary, and multimodal. The Boardâs varied activities annually engage about 7,000 engineers, scientists, and other transportation researchers and practitioners from the public and private sectors and academia, all of whom contribute their expertise in the public interest. The program is supported by state transportation departments, federal agencies including the component administrations of the U.S. Department of Transportation, and other organizations and individu- als interested in the development of transportation. www.TRB.org www.national-academies.org
C O O P E R A T I V E R E S E A R C H P R O G R A M S CRP STAFF FOR ACRP REPORT 83 Christopher W. Jenks, Director, Cooperative Research Programs Crawford F. Jencks, Deputy Director, Cooperative Research Programs Michael R. Salamone, ACRP Manager Theresia H. Schatz, Senior Program Officer Terri Baker, Senior Program Assistant Eileen P. Delaney, Director of Publications Natalie Barnes, Senior Editor ACRP PROJECT 02-36 PANEL Field of Environment Tomas Rivera, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, DFW Airport, TX (Chair) Paul J. Christner, Massachusetts Port Authority, East Boston, MA William F. Flannery, Des Moines International Airport, Des Moines, IA (Retired) Robert Graff, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, Philadelphia, PA Nate Sargent, ITW GSE Group, Bradford, OH Adam Walters, Southwest Airlines Co., Dallas, TX Nathan Brown, FAA Liaison Chris Hugunin, FAA Liaison Tim A. Pohle, Airlines for America Liaison Katherine B. Preston, Airports Council InternationalâNorth America Liaison Christine Gerencher, TRB Liaison
ACRP Report 83: Assessing Opportunities for Alternative Fuel Distribution Programs pro vides a guidebook and toolkit for airports to introduce and market alternative fuels to their airport community that includes tenants and consumers off airport. Alternative fuels con sidered 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 alterna tive fuel programs a success. This guidebook includes a stepÂbyÂstep process to evaluate opportunities and constraints for alternative fuel distribution programs. The toolkit on the accompanying CDÂROM consists of two spreadsheets that help airport decision makers evaluate alternative fuels marketing and distribution programs. Increasingly, airports and their tenants are examining the potential to introduce alterna tive 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 coÂproducts such as green diesel, which raises an additional desire to find markets for these coÂproducts. Given the concentrated demand for fuel products at or near airports, airports may have the potential to become distribution centers for the coÂproducts 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. This research was conducted under ACRP Project 02Â36 by Metron Aviation in associa tion with ACA Associates; Barnard Dunkelberg Corp. (now part of Mead & Hunt, Inc.); Integration Strategy, Inc.; RicardoÂAEA; PPC; and RCB Altman Associates, LLC. ACRP Report 83 expands the foundation provided in ACRP Report 60: Guidelines for Integrating Alternative Jet Fuel into the Airport Setting to cover other alternative fuels in addition to alternative jet fuel. A separate final report, which provides background to the research conducted in support of this guidebook, has been posted on the ACRP Project 02Â36 web page at http://apps.trb. org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=3036. F O R E W O R D ByâTheresiaâH.âSchatz StaffâOfficer TransportationâResearchâBoard
xiâ PurposeâofâThisâGuidebook xiiiâ HowâtoâUseâThisâGuidebook 1 Section 1 Introduction 1 1.1 What Are Alternative Fuels? 2 1.2 What Is Driving the Interest in Alternative Fuels? 3 1.3 Why Are Airports Interested in Alternative Fuels? 3 1.4 What Roles Do Airports Already Play in Fuel Distribution? 4 1.5 What Roles Can Airports Play in Alternative Fuel Programs? 4 1.6 Limitations of This Guidebook 4 1.7 Resources for Further Information 6 Section 2 âWhatâAreâtheâMainâCharacteristicsâ ofâAlternativeâFuels? 6 2.1 Alternative Jet Fuels 7 2.1.1 FischerÂTropsch Process 9 2.1.2 Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids Process 11 2.2 Alternative Jet Fuels in Development 11 2.2.1 Alcohols to Jet 13 2.2.2 Fermentation Renewable Jet 14 2.2.3 Pyrolysis Renewable Jet 15 2.3 Aviation Gasoline 15 2.4 Alternative Fuels for Surface Applications 15 2.4.1 Green Diesel 17 2.4.2 Biodiesel 19 2.4.3 Ethanol 21 2.4.4 Compressed Natural Gas 23 2.4.5 Liquefied Petroleum Gas 24 2.4.6 Electricity 26 2.5 Potential User Groups and Their Motivations 26 2.5.1 Potential Users of Alternative Jet Fuel 26 2.5.2 Potential Users of Other Alternative Fuels 28 2.6 Current Status of Fueling Infrastructure for Alternative Fuels in the United States 31 Section 3 HowâCanâAlternativeâFuelâDistributionâProgramsâ atâAirportsâBeâEvaluated? 31 3.1 Introduction to the Evaluation Framework 32 3.2 Introduction to the Toolkit and User Guide 33 Section 4 âEvaluationâFrameworkâStepâA:â HowâCanâDistributionâOptionsâBeâDefined? 33 4.1 Step A1: Identification of Energy Mix at Airports 35 4.2 Step A2: Energy Demand Forecast C O N T E N T S
35 4.3 Step A3: Storage and Distribution Infrastructure 35 4.3.1 Storage Infrastructure 37 4.3.2 Distribution of Alternative Fuels 38 Section 5 âEvaluationâFrameworkâStepâB:âWhatâAreâtheâKeyâ ConsiderationsâforâEvaluatingâDistributionâOptions? 39 5.1 Environmental and Economic Considerations 39 5.1.1 Alternative Jet Fuel 41 5.1.2 Green Diesel 42 5.1.3 Biodiesel 43 5.1.4 Ethanol 44 5.1.5 CNG 44 5.1.6 LPG 45 5.1.7 Electricity 46 5.1.8 General Observations 47 5.1.9 LifeÂCycle Evaluation 47 5.2 Social and Community Benefits 47 5.3 Financial and Commercial Considerations 48 5.3.1 Financial Considerations for Attracting Financing 49 5.3.2 Public Financial Support for Alternative Fuel Programs 51 5.3.3 Funding Overview of the Airport Improvement Program 52 5.3.4 Clean Cities 52 5.4 Legal and Regulatory Considerations 52 5.4.1 FAA and Associated Airport Regulations 52 5.4.2 Regulatory and Policy Framework on Alternative Jet Fuels 52 5.4.3 Regulatory and Policy Framework on Other Alternative Fuels 53 5.5 Stakeholder Engagement and Community Acceptance 53 5.5.1 Stakeholder Engagement 55 5.5.2 Addressing Particular Concerns of Airport Leadership 57 5.5.3 Community Acceptance 61 Section 6 âEvaluationâFrameworkâStepâC:â WhatâAreâtheâMainâSitingâConsiderationsâ forâAlternativeâFuelâDistributionâPrograms? 61 6.1 Introduction to Siting Considerations 62 6.2 Steps for Siting Alternative Fuels 62 6.2.1 Step 1: Inventory Airport Fuel Storage Facilities/Distribution Systems 65 6.2.2 Step 2: Identify Fuel Storage and Distribution System Requirements (Existing/Future) 67 6.2.3 Step 3: Identify Alternative Fuel Storage and Distribution Goals 69 6.2.4 Step 4: Identify Preliminary Alternative Fuel Storage Facility Development Sites 70 6.2.5 Step 5: Screen Sites and Prepare Preliminary Fuel Storage Facility Site Plans 71 6.2.6 Step 6: Select One of the Recommended Fuel Storage Facility Site Plans 71 6.2.7 Step 7: Construct Alternative Fuel Storage Facility 71 6.3 Environmental Reviews and Permitting 72 6.3.1 Environmental Review 72 6.3.2 Environmental Permitting
72 6.3.3 Land Use and Zoning in the Vicinity of Airports 74 6.3.4 Additional Notes on Permitting 75 Section 7 âRepresentativeâCaseâStudies 75 7.1 Analysis of Energy Demand from a Subset of Users 75 7.1.1 Overview of Charleston International Airport 76 7.1.2 Case Study Objective 76 7.1.3 Current Energy Use for Selected Users 78 7.1.4 Baseline 2015 Projected Energy Consumption for Selected Users 78 7.1.5 Scenario 1: Projected Energy Use with a Moderate Switch to Alternative Fuels 83 7.1.6 Scenario 2: Projected Energy Use with an Aggressive Switch to Alternative Fuels 83 7.1.7 Summary of Results 86 7.1.8 Conclusion 86 7.2 Comprehensive Analysis of Energy Demand 86 7.2.1 Overview of SeattleÂTacoma International Airport 87 7.2.2 Case Study Objective 87 7.2.3 Research Approach 87 7.2.4 Results and Discussion 88 7.2.5 Conclusions 88 7.3 Support of Business Plan for Alternative Fuel Use and Production 88 7.3.1 Overview of HartsfieldÂJackson Atlanta International Airport 89 7.3.2 Case Study Objective 89 7.3.3 InformationÂGathering Approach 90 7.3.4 Conclusion 90 7.4 Review of Siting Considerations 90 7.4.1 Overview of Tulsa International Airport 91 7.4.2 Case Study Objective 91 7.4.3 Approach 97 7.4.4 Conclusion 98 Section 8 SuggestedâNextâSteps 99 Section 9 FrequentlyâAskedâQuestions 99 9.1 Potential Community Concerns around Alternative Fuel 100 9.2 Potential Concerns Regarding Production of Alternative Fuel 102 9.3 Potential Concerns around the Storage, Handling, and Use of Alternative Jet Fuel 103 9.4 Potential Community Concerns around Alternative Surface Fuels 104â Glossary 107â Acronyms 109â Bibliography 114â Appendixes Note: Many of the photographs, figures, and tables in this report have been converted from color to grayscale for printing. The electronic version of the report (posted on the Web at www.trb.org) retains the color versions.
Alternative fuels have the potential to provide significant economic and environmental benefits to airports and their communities. These fuels can lead to improvements in local air quality emissions and reductions in lifeÂcycle greenhouse gases. In addition, alternative fuels offer the possibility to diversify away from imported conventional petroleumÂderived fuels and enhance energy security. Furthermore, alternative fuel distribution programs offer airports additional business opportunities to generate revenue through the operation of such facilities or leasing of land to thirdÂparty operators. Airports are natural nodes for multiÂmodal demand and are ideally situated to become distribution centers for a variety of alternative fuels for aircraft and surface transporta tion. Producers and marketers of alternative fuels can take advantage of this concentrated demand to strengthen their business case as they can cater to a wide spectrum of potential clients, including airlines, airports, and thirdÂparty operators such as rental car facilities, courtesy shuttles, taxis, buses, freight trucks, and other fleets that may operate nearby. This is especially the case for facilities that produce alternative jet fuel because, in addition to jet fuel, they also produce coÂproducts such as green diesel, which can be used by some pas senger and most cargo vehicles. This guidebook and associated toolkit provide airport management with planning and evaluation tools for assessing commercial opportunities involving the distribution of alter native fuels. The alternative fuels considered here include alternative jet fuel, green diesel, biodiesel, ethanol, compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, and electricity. This guidebook identifies economic, environmental, and policy issues that need to be addressed to make alternative fuels a success. It is designed to remain relevant in spite of the antici pated changes in the economics and technology of alternative fuels. Thus, the content is focused on the critical issues that need to be considered to arrive at a comprehensive picture of an airportÂbased alternative fuel distribution program. While the guidebook is targeted primarily at airport leadership and their staff, it is also helpful to other parties, such as users and producers of alternative fuels. Lastly, this guidebook provides airports with a framework for identifying factors that are unique to their situation and provides toolkits for evaluating business opportunities and metrics to support quantitative assessments of the benefits and costs of becoming involved in an alternative fuel distribution program. The guidebook and toolkit provide information and resources to allow readers to reach their own conclusions about deploying distribution infrastructure according to what is most appropriate to their local circumstances. This guidebook is a continuation of the work presented in ACRP Report 60: Guidelines for Integrating Alternative Jet Fuel into the Airport Setting. This guidebook expands the founda tion laid out in ACRP Report 60 to cover other alternative fuels in addition to alternative jet fuel. PurposeâofâThisâGuidebook
This guidebook and associated materials are intended to be used by a wide audience with varying degrees of familiarity with alternative fuels. Therefore, depending on the readerâs level of expertise with alternative fuels, different sections will be more or less relevant. For readers not familiar with alternative fuels, Sections 1 and 2 are a good starting point. Section 1 presents the motivation for using alternative fuels and the role that airports can play in their deployment. Section 2 discusses the main characteristics of alternative fuels, including environmental characteristics, infrastructure requirements, and user profiles. Sections 3 through 8 are intended for readers comfortable with alternative fuels. In Sec tion 3, a framework for evaluating alternative fuel distribution programs is introduced. This framework is explained in detail in Sections 4, 5, and 6. In Section 7, four representative case studies that illustrate a number of analyses and questions that can be addressed with this guidebook and associated toolkit are presented. Section 8 briefly discusses suggested next steps; Section 9 answers some frequently asked questions. The printed guidebook ends with some supporting material: a glossary, acronym list, and bibliography. The toolkit associated with this guidebook consists of two separate spreadsheets that help the reader implement the elements of the evaluation framework introduced in Section 3. The spreadsheets can be found on the accompanying CDÂROM or downloaded from the TRB website (http://www.trb.org; search for Toolkit for Alternative Fuel Distribution Programs). The following appendixes to the guidebook are also on the CDÂROM: the User Guide for the toolkit, a detailed explanation of the forecasting methodology developed here, and more information on environmental characteristics of alternative fuels and environmental permitting guidelines. HowâtoâUseâThisâGuidebook