{"id":30085,"date":"2023-02-17T09:50:13","date_gmt":"2023-02-17T09:50:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/?p=30085"},"modified":"2025-01-26T19:23:42","modified_gmt":"2025-01-26T19:23:42","slug":"could-sustainable-aviation-fuel-be-a-thing-of-the-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/could-sustainable-aviation-fuel-be-a-thing-of-the-future\/30085\/","title":{"rendered":"Could sustainable aviation fuel be a thing of the future?"},"content":{"rendered":"
Following a joint initiative<\/a>, the collaboration between the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI and the Swiss start-up, Metafuels, is now ready for first-stage construction and operation. The first pilot plant, located on the PSI campus, will validate the technology and prepare it for large-scale commercial deployment in the near future.<\/p>\n PSI and Metafuels are working to develop and market an efficient process for the production of affordable synthetic kerosene from renewable resources. The plan is to produce high-quality, sustainable aviation fuel using water, renewable electricity, and sustainably sourced carbon dioxide.<\/p>\n This sustainable alternative is compatible with existing jet engines as a blend of traditional fossil-based kerosene or, eventually, as a primary fuel. Working with the Metafuels team, the researchers have developed a catalytic process that not only avoids the use of fossil feedstocks but also offers superior selectivity.<\/p>\n The process enables renewable energy to be used more efficiently than in alternative SAF processes. PSI and Metafuels scientists want to use the new sustainable aviation fuel\u00a0(AerobrewTM<\/sup>) to close the carbon cycle and achieve net zero in air transport.<\/p>\n When aviation fuel is burned by an aircraft, it releases not only carbon dioxide (CO2<\/sub>) but also creates other byproducts, including nitrogen oxides (NOx), water vapour, soot, and aerosols which react with the atmosphere and contribute substantially to global warming.<\/p>\n The formation of condensation trails is just as important. As they burn fossil kerosene, jet engines also emit soot particles and other condensation nuclei. These instantly form ice crystals that appear as condensation trails in the sky at cold temperatures and high altitudes. Under certain conditions, this can lead to the formation of artificial clouds, known as aircraft-produced contrail cirrus clouds. Although some of these clouds allow visible sunlight to pass through almost unimpaired, they reflect and absorb the infrared rays from the Earth\u2019s surface very efficiently, preventing the radiation from escaping into outer space.<\/p>\n \u201cThe molecular composition of synthetic fuels makes it possible to manipulate the combustion process and significantly reduce the formation of soot particles, for example,\u201d explained Marco Ranocchiari. The latest research results indicate that this not only helps reduce the planet\u2019s net warming but also improves local air quality at airports.<\/p>\n A report published by the European Commission, \u2018Updated analysis of the non-CO2 effects of aviation<\/a>,\u2019 confirms that non-CO2<\/sub>\u00a0effects make up two-thirds of aviation\u2019s climate impact.<\/p>\nHow does traditional aviation fuel impact the planet?<\/h3>\n