On the 2^nd of July, the yearly LST MSc Design competition took place at Schiphol. 8 student teams from TU Delft presented their plans to use biobased materials and biofuels in a sustainable way in aviation and at airports. The competition was organised in cooperation with BioPort Holland, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, SkyNRG and BE-Basic Foundation.  The winning team (Baudine Gevers Deynoot, Eline van der Knaap, Eko Roy Marella, Bradley Sluijter en Veronica Gast) presented a way to turn lignocellulosic materials into biokerosene and was awarded with a symbolic prize of €400.

Chairman of the jury Luuk van der Wielen (BE-Basic / TU Delft) is content about the results: ‘The winning team was able to creatively link manufacturing concepts around aviation biofuels to construction materials production, while keeping it respectively cost affordable and climate positive. The runner-up did this as well, yet in a very different way, showing a diversity of trends and technological options to provide feasible solutions for aviation and other businesses. All other teams had very interesting concepts as well – I am proud of all of them. 

Other jury members were Rop Zoetemeijer (Chairman Biobased Delta, former CTO Corbion), Ed Koelemeijer (Manager Innovation of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol), Maarten van Dijk (CEO SkyNRG), Solange Mussatto (TU Delft) en Susana Pedraza de la Cuesta (TU Delft). During the meeting, representatives of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol  also gave presentations about sustainable projects at Schiphol, and a selection of biobased materials were exhibited. 

The student competition was meant to research new ways to make the transfer from fossil to biobased resources, while maintaining technical and economic targets. ‘Young people have the future,’ says Koelemeijer. ‘It is a good thing that these students are working on our future because they are the future and are researching and implementing the possibilities of a biobased economy.’ Koelemeijer emphasizes the importance of raising awareness about the need for new sustainable solutions. During the event, most of the present students would be willing to pay an extra fee of €10 for a flight within Europe, providing the airplane would run on biokerosene.

The student teams will soon receive more advise about their presentations and in case possible, there will be an assessment whether following steps are possible for their business plans.