Indian Scientist Creates Plant-Based Aircraft Fuel That Cuts Emissions By 68%

Could a plant-based fuel replace current petroleum fuel for flights? According to Indian-origin scientist Puneet Dwivedi, a fuel made from a type of mustard plant could help reduce emissions by 68 per cent.

Puneet Dwivedi from the University of Georgia spearheaded the project, leading the team to look for a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) made from oil found in Brassica carinata, an oilseed crop unfit for eating.

Dorothy Kozlowski/UGA

Adopting cleaner fuel

Published in GCB Bioenergy, the study could pave way for adoption of cleaner ways to run our existing technology, including aircraft that make up a giant chunk of petroleum-based fuel consumption.

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Dwivedi is convinced that with "feedstock supply and suitable economic incentives", they could begin producing carinata-based SAF in the southern parts of United States, UGA Today reported.

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The aviation industry is responsible for 2.5 per cent of all carbon dioxide emissions, contributing to 3.5 per cent of all global warming.

What about the costs?

The team headed by Dwivedi also laid out the costs involved in the production of SAF from carinata. In most optimum conditions, the SAF from carinata could be produced in as less as $0.12 per litre. The cost could go up to $1.28 per litre based on market incentives.

The study found that petroleum-based fuel for flights costs about $0.50 per litre, which is tad higher than the carinata-based SAF. Dwivedi pursued the project as part of the Southeast Partnership for Advanced Renewables from Carinata (SPARC) - a project backed by the US government.

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The $15 million project requires scientists to investigate ways in which carinata could be grown in the Southeast US. The study was co-authored by Asiful Alam and Md Farhad Hossain Masum from the University of Georgia.

Carinata grows in humid regions and may be grown not only in southern parts of the US, but in different parts of Asia, Africa, Europe and Australia as a spring or a winter crop.

What do you think about this fantastic feat? Let us know in the comments below. For more in the world of science and technology, keep reading Indiatimes.com.

Citation

Alam, A., Masum, M. F. H., & Dwivedi, P. (2021). Break©\even price and carbon emissions of carinata©\based sustainable aviation fuel production in the Southeastern United States. GCB Bioenergy. Published.