The world's first plane powered with bio fuel based on algae recently took off for a spin at Berlin's international air show. The prototype plane “Diamond DA42 New Generation” was developed by European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (EADS).

Engineers say no changes were needed to run the aircraft on the new type of biological fuel.

[Johannes Stuhlberger, Vice President, EADS]:
“The algae fuel has the benefit of a higher energy content, by 5 to 10 percent. The benefit in addition is that the exhaust quality is better than with the current conventional kerosene.”

The production of biofuel is not complicated—it can be produced almost everywhere.

[Johannes Stuhlberger, Vice President, EADS]:
"The production of biofuel can be made everywhere. What you need is sunlight, is CO2, nutrition and the place to do it. As it is all balanced, it is not necessary to go to the place where you have the most sun. It is the place where you have all of it. So therefore, we can produce it here.”

But, the production of algae-based biofuel is not cheap.

[Johannes Stuhlberger, Vice President, EADS]:
"I cannot tell you how much a liter of algae fuel will ultimately cost but it is incredibly more expensive. Unfortunately, we have not yet reached a level where we can produce it in large quantities and sell it."             

Stuhlberger says it would take another five to ten years for an aircraft to operate on algae biofuel.