DENVER – San Francisco International Airport, in conjunction with Hythane Company, (a subsidiary of Eden Energy Ltd. listed as EDE on the Australian Securities Exchange) and BAF Technologies, received a $499,800 grant to acquire 14 parking lot, hotel, and airline crew shuttles to run on Hythane fuel.(a blend of 20 percent hydrogen and 80 percent natural gas).

The award represents half of a special Bay Area Air Quality Management District grant set aside for advanced technology demonstration programs.

This grant will facilitate the replacement of existing gasoline-powered and diesel-powered airport shuttles with Hythane versions of the shuttles, which are expected to dramatically decrease emissions. Specifically, the Hythane shuttles are expected to reduce nitrous oxides by 56 percent, non-methane hydrocarbons by 30 percent, and carbon dioxide by 40 percent over the existing versions. The Hythane model is also expected to outperform comparable natural gas shuttles by emitting 30 percent less hydrocarbons and 20 percent less carbon dioxide.

The Hythane portion of the project includes the development work to create a Hythane version of these vehicles, as well as the actual Hythane conversion of all 14 shuttles.

“Hythane Company is excited to assist SFO in being a leader in reducing emissions in the airport arena,” said John Nadeau, Hythane West Coast manager. Nadeau cited the low cost of vehicle conversion compared to the purchase of new vehicles combined with the emissions benefits achieved through the use of Hythane fuel as the two factors which appealed to the funding review board. The Hythane project was the most cost-effective project of all the projects applied for under this grant based on dollars per ton of emissions reduced.

In addition to being rated highly for being cost-effective, this project represents a positive public/private partnership toward the greening of a major West Coast airport. “Hythane Company is in the business of working closely with alternative-fuel vehicle partners and public agencies like the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and the San Mateo City/County Association of Governments to amass the support needed to move clean transportation projects forward,” said Roger Marmaro, Hythane Company president and cofounder.