U.S. Tests Technology That Can Produce Aviation Fuel From The Air We Breathe

US Company Studies The Possibility Of Developing Wind-Powered Aviation Fuel, Could End One Of The Industries That Generate The Most Air Pollution.

The US Air Force is interested in utilizing a technology that could produce aviation fuel from wind. When ready, this technology could help the US decentralize its supply chain and reduce the risks of potential attacks on its logistics operations in conflict areas.

US Army Commits To Reducing Its Emissions By 50%

Military forces around the world are contributors to global emissions, and although the numbers are not publicly available, researchers from Lancaster University in the UK project that emissions from US Department of Defense operations exceed those of most mid-sized countries. Last year, the US military committed to reducing its emissions by half by the end of the decade and to make all bases carbon neutral by 2050.

The US Air Force’s move to develop air fuel also aims to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. Being able to generate fuel on-site will also reduce emissions associated with transporting fossil fuels from refineries to air force bases, and even in tankers for in-flight refueling.

The US Air Force offered a contract of US$ 65 million to a Brooklyn-based startup called Air Company. The company is also well-known for its other products, such as vodka and perfumes made from carbon dioxide.

To do this, Air Company captures CO2 from the air and uses electricity from renewable sources to convert it into aviation fuel based on ethanol. The company did this during the hand sanitizer shortage during the pandemic and hopes to replicate the same for the US Air Force at its forward base in the future.

Biodiesel Industry Also Contributes To Pollutant Emissions

Given the scale of air fuel needed for aviation, the US company is currently using waste emissions generated during biodiesel production to generate its sustainable aviation fuel.

While this initiative may seem sustainable, the biodiesel industry also contributes to gas emissions, as it relies on fertilizers and transport based on fossil fuels. It has been found that the process releases nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas 300 times more polluting than CO2.

Additionally, the shift from fossil fuels to the project is not expected to help reduce carbon emissions. Instead, it will create a carbon cycle where emissions can be transformed into air fuel only to be released again when burned. 

Air Company’s Technology Could Contribute To Carbon Recycling

To reduce its emissions, the military must switch to alternative means of propulsion for its aircraft and heavy equipment. While hydrogen or electric propulsion may be the answer for the future, for now, aviation fuel technologies like the one being developed by Air Company could contribute to carbon recycling and the reduction of logistics and transportation emissions.

According to research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the expansion of the aviation sector has effects on air quality twice as much compared to climate effects. The study assessed the impact of vehicles on air quality and climate based on emissions, location, and altitude. Results indicate that CO2 emissions attributable to aviation have increased on average by 2.6% per year over the past 25 years.