Future environmentally friendly fuel for aircraft

Efforts are also being made in the aviation industry to reduce emissions of harmful gases. Researchers want to develop a fuel that is commercially available, which can significantly reduce emissions.

    

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The non-governmental organization Atmos Fair has inaugurated the world's first plant to produce 'carbon neutral' fuel for aircraft. The term carbon neutral is used for methods that emit clean substances equal to the amount of toxic substances released so as not to harm the environment.

The group said its site at Amesland in northern Germany would start producing eight barrels or one tonne of synthetic fuel per day from next year. The group did not immediately return requests for comment. Synthetic kerosene is also called 'e-kerosene'. This fuel is being touted as the key to reducing emissions from the aviation industry. So what is the reason that this environmentally friendly fuel has not become common yet, there are many reasons for this.

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Air travel emits high levels of harmful gases and substances because of the use of fossil fuels in aircraft. Overall, the aviation industry is responsible for two to three percent of toxic carbon dioxide emissions. The industry aims to reduce emissions to 2005 levels by 2050, but it is also a major challenge.

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Why only synthetic fuels, why no other alternative?

E-kerosene is a type of 'Sustainable Aviation Fuel' (SAF), which can be combined with conventional fuels to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. SAF is a biofuel derived from natural ingredients, obtained from baby raw crops or animal feed. Biofuels can reduce emissions of harmful gases and substances by up to 80%.

The NGO Atmos Fair is producing synthetic kerosene from renewable electricity made of sustainable carbon dioxide and hydrogen at its plant in Amesland. The produced fuel is mixed with conventional fuel and shipped to Hamburg Airport, where it is used for commercial flights. Germany's national airline, Lufthansa, has also used the same fuel.

Germany has set its own goals. The Berlin government wants 10 million tons of e-kerosene to be used annually by 2026. By 2030, that proportion is set to rise to 2 percent.