Scientists have now found a way to fuel airplanes by using carbon dioxide and water absorbed from the air. This is a major development for the industry as calls to take action against climate change are increasing. This new technology was just published in a study in the scientific journal “Nature”, by Dr. Aldo Steinfield of ETH Zurich and his colleagues. It talks of a method that can replace fossil fuels, by literally plucking this new fuel out of thin air. Much like the process of photosynthesis, where plants take in carbon dioxide, water and sunlight to produce energy, Dr. Steinfield has come up with a process that uses these very materials to fuel airplanes. The process takes place in three stages. First, a device absorbs carbon dioxide and water from the atmosphere. Then, concentrated sunlight is used to heat a material called cerium oxide. By doing this, cerium oxide will react with both carbon dioxide and water which were absorbed by the device. The products of reacting with these two materials are carbon monoxide and hydrogen respectively. In both cases, oxygen is formed as a by-product which is let out into the atmosphere. This resultant mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen is called “syngas”, which is a widely used raw material for making other things. The last stage is to turn this syngas into organic molecules. At this point, it can be turned into kerosene, methanol or other hydrocarbons. This technology of producing carbon-neutral fuels is at this point sufficiently developed for use in industrial applications. In order to totally substitute aviation fuel using this technology, about 45,000 sq kms of land would be required. Deserts would be the most suitable sites of production due to their higher availability of solar resources. Basically, just less than one percent of the world’s arid land could be enough to meet the global demand for aviation fuel. Though Dr. Steinfield has demonstrated a credible and fairly scalable way of making aviation carbon-neutral, the initial investment costs are high and it would require major policy support for market entry. Air travel is in dire need of green technology, as it releases more carbon dioxide per kilometre than any of the other modes of transport. The other sectors are already taking measures to reduce their emissions but there has been no such significant development for aviation. In fact, emissions caused due to air travel are growing exponentially, with more people flying more and more often. One thing that makes the aviation industry stand apart though, is that it is best equipped to pay for its own emission reductions and newer technology. With proper investment and support, the industry can become more environment friendly, and help fight climate change.
10 Jan 2022
Sophia Navagaonkar
