Swiss scientists are making jet fuel from sunlight and air

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum.

Author: Johnny Wood, Senior Writer, Formative Content

• Scientists have developed a process using sunlight and air to create carbon-neutral jet fuel.
• The process could sustainably fuel planes, ships and road haulage.
• Sustainable aviation fuels are a key part of the industry’s plans to decarbonize.

Scientists have developed a way to make carbon-neutral jet fuel for hard-to-electrify heavy transport using sunlight and air.

The fuels release as much carbon dioxide (CO2) when combusted as they absorb from the atmosphere when produced, so no additional CO2 emissions are generated.

The new process could further efforts to combat climate change by decarbonizing transport sectors like aviation, which is responsible for almost 3% of all human-made carbon dioxide emissions, shipping and road haulage.

Researchers, led by Aldo Steinfeld, Professor of Renewable Energy Sources at ETH Zurich, have developed an industrial plant that extracts carbon dioxide (CO2) and water from the air. Solar energy is then used to split these compounds and produce syngas – a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. This is then further processed to create kerosene and methanol which can be used as a substitute for traditional fuels.

Sustainable jet fuel: ready for take-off

While the technology is now advanced enough to use in commercial operations, major challenges remain if the new process is to be competitive and scalable.

The study, published in Nature, estimates “solar kerosene” fuel would cost between $1.35-$2.2 (€1.20-€2.00) per litre once produced at scale. But high initial investment costs are a major barrier, and the business model is yet to be proven. The report’s authors suggest bodies like the European Union adopt a quota system requiring airlines to source a proportion of their fuel from solar sources, to help pay to scale the technology.

As well as its environmental credentials, the process has another benefit. Its reliance on sunlight makes desert areas prime land for production sites, leaving valuable agricultural land available for growing crops and rearing livestock. This is in contrast to biofuels which often rely on crops being grown to be converted into fuel.

The sky’s the limit

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) says sustainable aviation fuel will need to play a substantial role in achieving the global target of net CO2 emissions by 2050.

This view is shared by the International Energy Agency (IEA), with its Sustainable Development Scenario anticipating sustainable jet fuels will account for 10% of aviation fuel demand by 2030, and almost 20% a decade later.

Global passenger numbers are expected to reach 7.5 billion by 2035, up from 4.5 billion in 2019 before pandemic disruption halted many flights, according to IATA. Investment in developing and adopting cleaner fuels compatible with existing aircraft is therefore key to realizing these ambitions. While the business case for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is still in development, scaling up this technology will bring down costs.
Initiatives like the World Economic Forum’s Clean Skies for Tomorrow Coalition, provide a platform for airlines, airports, fuel suppliers and other global aviation stakeholders to accelerate SAF deployment. More than 60 companies have so far joined forces, aiming to power global aviation with 10% sustainable fuels by 2030, as part of efforts to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Aviation

What is the World Economic Forum doing to reduce aviation’s carbon footprint?

As other sectors proceed to decarbonize, the aviation sector could account for a much higher share of global greenhouse gas emissions by mid-century than its 2%-3% share today.

Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) can reduce the life-cycle carbon footprint of aviation fuel by up to 80%, but they currently make up less than 0.1% of total aviation fuel consumption. Enabling a shift from fossil fuels to SAFs will require a significant increase in production, which is a costly investment.

The Forum’s Clean Skies for Tomorrow (CST) Coalition is a global initiative driving the transition to sustainable aviation fuels as part of the aviation industry’s ambitious efforts to achieve carbon-neutral flying.

The coalition brings together government leaders, climate experts and CEOs from aviation, energy, finance and other sectors who agree on the urgent need to help the aviation industry reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The coalition aims to advance the commercial scale of viable production of sustainable low-carbon aviation fuels (bio and synthetic) for broad adoption in the industry by 2030. Initiatives include a mechanism for aggregating demand for carbon-neutral flying, a co-investment vehicle and geographically specific value-chain industry blueprints.

Learn more about the Clean Skies for Tomorrow Coalition’s impact and contact us to find out how you can get involved.

​​“Achieving our ambition will require commitment, innovation and cross-industry collaboration from a wide range of stakeholders,” said Lauren Uppink Calderwood, Head of Aviation, Travel and Tourism at the World Economic Forum.