Aeroplane fuel can be made out of just sunlight and air, say scientists in Switzerland.
A new system has been created on the roof of ETH Zurich University where engineers are testing whether this type of fuel generation can work in the real world.So is making plane fuel out of natural elements too good to be true - and how does it actually work?
The carbon neutral fuel is created in three steps. First, an air capture unit absorbs carbon dioxide and water from the air. Secondly a solar unit extracts energy from the sun, which then turns these elements into a mixture of carbon monoxide and oxygen (called syngas).
Lastly, the syngas is turned into a liquid which is used as fuel. And they’re calling it ‘solar kerosene’.
Although the system testing started in 2019, scientists confirmed this week that it is now “stable and reliable”.
The research, published in Nature, is being led by engineer Aldo Steinfeld, Professor of Renewable Energy Sources at ETH Zurich.
"This plant successfully demonstrates the technical feasibility of the entire thermochemical process for converting sunlight and ambient air into ‘drop-in fuels’,” he explains.
“The system operates stably under real-world solar conditions and provides a unique platform for further research and development.”
According to Steinfeld, the technology is now sufficiently ‘mature’ for use in the real world. But it will need funding to get there, especially as the carbon neutral fuel would be more expensive to produce than regular, polluting kerosene.
The system is part of a global attempt to help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emissions that come from flying and shipping (currently 8 per cent). Euronews.green - link - Maeve Campbell - link - more like this - link
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