Aviation accounts for 2-3 percent of global carbon emissions, significantly contributing to the changing climate. The sector has, however, proven difficult to electrification since the energy density of batteries isn’t anywhere close to fossil fuels. Synthetic or e-fuels are better suited as stand-in fuel as the aviation sector continues to grow but allow emissions to be reined under control.
“Synthetic fuels that are produced by means of power-to-liquid processes with CO2 from the atmosphere or biogenic sources, water, and green electricity are particularly suitable,” said Roland Dittmeyer, a professor at KIT’s Institute for Microprocess Engineering (IMVT) in a press release.