The United States wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from air travel to zero by 2050. For this
What is known
A New York startup has developed a technologythe process of converting carbon dioxide into fuel alcohols and wax. A lot of text about technology can be read in the white paper. CO2 itself is not extracted from the atmosphere, but is extracted from ethanol production. But the company obtains ethanol from corn during processing.
Additionally, the startup needs hydrogen.It is produced by electrolysis of water using renewable energy sources, including solar. In the process of electrolysis, the startup produces hydrogen and sends it to a reactor to react with CO2. At the same time, oxygen is released into the atmosphere.
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The end products of interaction areparaffin, water, methanol and ethanol. Their company is used for more than just jet fuel. Air Company manages to produce vodka, perfume and disinfectants.
Startup from New York is not yet capableproduce fuel on a scale that would have an impact on global carbon dioxide levels. But if other companies join it, and all fuel-dependent industries switch to ecological fuel, then emissions will decrease by 10%.
Another problem for the Air Company isregulatory bans on the use of pure synthetic carbon neutral fuel formulations as aviation fuel. According to current regulations, the share of synthetic fuel should be no more than 50%.
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Despite the limitation, last year the US Air Forcetested a drone that was fueled exclusively with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The tests were successful, and this was probably the reason for the signing of the contract between the Air Company and the US Air Force.
The deal amounted to $65 million.The funds will be used to improve the technology for the synthesis of carbon-friendly aviation fuel from carbon dioxide. Commercial deliveries will begin in 2024. The Air Company received orders from Virgin Atlantic and Boom.