Solar breakthrough: Aviation fuel made from air and sunlight
Fuel production is typically associated with using non-renewable resources and environmental pollution. At the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH Zurich), a groundbreaking technology for producing aviation fuel has been developed, which could transform aviation into a more eco-friendly industry.
Imagine fuel created from the air. ETH Zurich has built a system that produces aviation fuel from naturally available resources. Last year, the Swiss institute conducted initial small-scale tests on its roof.
Currently, experiments are being conducted on a much larger scale. In Spain, an installation consisting of 169 solar panels, each with a diagonal of about 10 feet, has been set up. These panels reflect sunlight toward a reactor situated on a 49-foot tower in the center of the facility. The reactor obtains around 50 kW of thermal energy from the Sun.
Fuel from air and water
This energy is used to produce syngas from CO2 and water sourced from the atmosphere. The GTL (gas-to-liquid) process transforms it into liquid fuel. Although its combustion emits CO2, the emission balance is zero because the carbon dioxide emitted is recovered throughout the process.
This technology offers potential solutions in aviation and energy production. Unfortunately, it remains experimental and is not yet ready for mass market implementation.
However, it is said to have great potential because it can be produced from more readily available resources than traditional fossil fuels.
The future of aviation
The current challenge is efficiency. The installation cycle lasts 50-60 minutes, allowing 8-9 daily cycles with favorable sunlight conditions.
In nine days of operation, just over 5 tons of fuel were produced, corresponding to the requirements for about an hour of flight for large aircraft like the Boeing 787 Dreamliner or C-17 Globemaster.
Nonetheless, airlines are optimistic about this technology. Swiss International Air Lines and Lufthansa Group are collaborating with Synhelion, which will commercialize this innovative technology.
