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+--- Thread: Article Experts warn that climate friendly aviation fuel is still a long way off (travel) (/thread-17660.html)
Experts warn that climate friendly aviation fuel is still a long way off (travel) - C C - Mar 26, 2025
https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/energy/carbon-neutral-sustainable-aviation-fuel/
EXCERPTS: New research has shown how carbon-neutral aviation fuel can be made more efficiently. The development has been welcomed as attempts are being made to reduce the carbon emissions of the aviation sector.
But experts say it could be a while before these “eco-fuels” or “e-fuels” – synthetic aviation fuels produced from fossil-free electricity and recycled carbon dioxide – are a major part of the equation to make aviation sustainable.
[...] University of Adelaide researcher Tracey Dodd is a global expert on energy policy. She says in an interview with Cosmos that she believes the aviation industry is lobbying for the right policy environments for sustainable fuels.
“But even with the best projections, it’s only going to be 0.7% of fuel globally,” she says. “That’s a drop in the ocean. How can we support a sustainable aviation revolution?”
She says that the technology exists for the transition to sustainable fuel sources.
“There are several synthetic biofuels that can be used in existing aircraft, meaning there is no need to change the aircraft. Algae also has significant potential, but it is more expensive as the feedstock can be used for other purposes, such as pharmaceutical products. Additionally, scientists are exploring new pathways, including hydrogen and carbon-neutral synthetic fuels,” she says. “So every day we have a new innovation. The problem is scaling it up.”
[...] The European Union (EU) roadmap for sustainable aviation fuels says these fuels will make up 2% of the supply in Europe by 2025, rising to 6% in 2030 and reaching 70% by 2050.
[...] “The challenge for the aviation industry is that the renewable fuels are more expensive than the normal fuel set. … The more sustainable aviation fuel we require, the more that price difference is going to hurt you,” Feenstra says. “If we want to make aviation sustainable, we’ll have to enable these fuels in one way or another.” (MORE - missing details)