As the booming aviation industry looks for ways to reduce its impact on the planet, researchers have revealed that sustainable aviation fuel can be produced from municipal solid waste.
The study, published in the journal Nature Sustainability, said such a plan could meet 28% of global aviation fuel needs and reduce air pollution by 16%, Space Daily reported.
Sustainable aviation fuel, which the outlet describes as “a low-carbon alternative made from feedstocks such as waste cooking oil and crops,” isn’t the only way innovators are looking to transform environmentally costly flights. One group is designing propellers to reduce fuel consumption, while another is converting microalgae into biofuels.
Despite this, Space Daily noted that less than 1% of global aviation fuel use comes from sustainable fuels, adding that aviation accounts for 2.5% of global pollution and that air travel is set to double by 2040. (There are many other options.)
“Unlike road transport, which is rapidly shifting towards electrification, there is no magic bullet to achieve carbon-neutral aviation,” said lead author Jingran Zhang. “Converting everyday waste into jet fuel could be an innovative but important near-term step towards clean aviation. By converting municipal waste into low-carbon jet fuel already used in today’s engines, we can start reducing emissions immediately without waiting for future technologies.”
Converting waste into fuel would bring significant benefits. First of all, compared with traditional aviation fuel, it can reduce air pollution by 80-90%. It can also convert plastics, metals and other waste into vital products, eliminating the need for these unwanted items to be stored in landfills or incinerated. According to Space Daily, this will generate clean energy, herald the achievement of zero-waste goals, reduce pollution and protect land.
One problem with this idea, the website notes, is that only a third of the waste is converted into fuel due to a “mismatch in gas composition.” Researchers say adding carbon dioxide or green hydrogen to the mix would help improve the effect.
“During processing, efficiency could be improved by capturing carbon dioxide or adding green hydrogen produced from renewable energy sources,” Space Daily said.
The economic benefits will include cost savings for airlines, which already benefit from government incentives and subsidies that encourage the use of greener fuels. The United States and Europe have said they will significantly reduce aviation pollution through the use of sustainable fuels, with the latter increasing from 2% this year to 70% by 2050.
“Broad collaboration between governments, fuel producers, airlines and aircraft manufacturers is critical to increasing production, reducing costs and accelerating the aviation industry’s move towards net-zero emissions,” said lead author Michael B. McElroy.
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