Carbon-Neutral Jet Fuel? Scientists In Europe Say They’ve Successfully Created Synthetic Kerosene.
Topline
Researchers in Europe say they have successfully produced synthetic jet fuel using carbon dioxide, solar energy and water as a part of the European Union’s SUNlight-to-Liquid project, according to sustainable energy publication Joule, a milestone in the fight to produce sustainable aviation fuels.
Swiss Airlines is preparing to be the first airline to use carbon-neutral kerosene. (Photo by Sean … [+]
Key Facts
After research from June 2021 found that air travel contributes to 4% of global warming, scientists announced that, for the first time, they were able to produce liquid hydrocarbon aviation fuel.
They did this using a solar concentrating tower filled with 169 solar panels, a solar reactor and a gas-to-liquid unit.
Aldo Steinfeld, paper author and professor at ETH Zurich, the university behind this research, said the jet fuel is carbon neutral because “the amount of CO2 (carbon) emitted during kerosene combustion in a jet engine equals that consumed during its production in the solar plant,” which means its impact on global warming is offset.
This experiment proved the possibility of making kerosene (jet fuel) without the use of fossil fuels, which when burned can release chemicals responsible for smog and acid rain into the atmosphere.
Along with aircraft, this carbon-neutral fuel can be used in cars, trucks and ships.
It is currently unknown when this development will be widely available.
KEY BACKGROUND
This experiment and research was conducted as a part of the EU’s SUNlight-to-liquid project, which aims to advance solar fuel technology. According to the EU, liquid hydrocarbon fuel is more ideal for the transportation sector because of its high energy density. The project and its carbon-neutral kerosene comes as the EU aims to be climate-neutral by 2050 and fight global climate change which aviation has contributed to. More recently, American socialite Kylie Jenner faced backlash on social media for reportedly using a private jet to travel under 20 minutes.
TANGENT
The announcement of this groundbreaking demonstration comes just as the European Commission is advising residents to ration gas. This week, the U.K. saw record-breaking temperatures of 104 degrees Fahrenheit, while forest fires have been witnessed across Europe amid a scorching heatwave. Earlier this month, heatwaves in the United States put 50 million people under excessive heat warnings—the National Weather Service’s most severe alert—with multiple places’ heat indexes exceeding 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Even with these temperatures, one of the ideal locations for the solar reactor necessary to make this fuel would be the southwest United States because of its solar radiation, according to Steinfield. The experiment was conducted at the IMDEA Energy Institute in Madrid, Spain, an institution that regularly researches solar energy and sustainable fuels.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
Steinfield said the first industrial production plant for this type of jet fuel will launch in 2023 by Synhelion, a spin-off company of Switzerland-based public university ETH Zurich. Swiss International Airlines is preparing to be the first airline to put the carbon-neutral, solar-powered fuel to use.
FURTHER READING
‘Russia Is Blackmailing Us’: EU Plans Gas Reduction As Putin Threatens Shutoff (Forbes)
U.K. Records Its Hottest Temperature Ever Amid Extreme Heatwave (Forbes)
Heat Wave Across Europe Sparks Wildfires And Heat-Related Deaths (Forbes)
Yes, Another Heat Wave: Almost 50 Million Under Heat Alerts Across U.S. (Forbes)
These Oxford Scientists Just Created Carbon-Neutral Jet Fuel From CO2 (Forbes)
