Much work remains to translate the process to industrial scale. These reaction cycles produce syngas (synthesis gas), which is then converted to liquid fuels such as diesel and kerosene (which is used as jet fuel for long-haul flights) via a well-established process known as the Fischer-Tropsch reaction, which typically occurs in the presence of metal catalysts, temperatures of 150–300☌ and pressures of several tens of atmospheres. It’s what many plants do to make energy for themselves. Now, in a potentially ground-breaking innovation for long-haul flights, a team of researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zürisch (ETH Zurich) have developed an all-in-one solar-powered tower that’s able to use energy from the Sun’s rays to convert water and carbon dioxide into synthetic fuels.
The efforts by this sector to respond to its environmental impact can range from switching fuels (from coal to biomass, for instance), more efficient combustion processes (by improving aircraft engines, for example), protecting forests or promoting sustainable development in local communities. This is due in part to recognition that the aviation industry is responsible for around 5% of human-made emissions resulting in climate change. The last time you booked a flight online, you may have been offered the chance to ‘offset’ the carbon produced by your travel.
Climate versus cost: what does the UK’s energy crisis tell us about the economics of net-zero in an energy-scarce world?.Why “curtailment” is about to become a dirty word: rooftop solar’s gone hard – now it’s being told to go home ….Across the country, local governments are committing to policies to meet the challenges of climate change.
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