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Recent Advances on Alternative Aviation Fuels/Pathways: A Critical Review

Author

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  • Nikolaos Detsios

    (Chemical Process and Energy Resources Institute, Centre for Research & Technology Hellas, 4th km. Ptolemaida Mpodosakio Hospital Area, GR-50200 Ptolemaida, Greece
    Laboratory for Technical Study, Design, Supervision, Efficiency and Evaluation of Thermal and Environmental Installations, Evripos Campus, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, GR-34400 Athens, Greece)

  • Stella Theodoraki

    (Chemical Process and Energy Resources Institute, Centre for Research & Technology Hellas, 4th km. Ptolemaida Mpodosakio Hospital Area, GR-50200 Ptolemaida, Greece)

  • Leda Maragoudaki

    (Chemical Process and Energy Resources Institute, Centre for Research & Technology Hellas, 4th km. Ptolemaida Mpodosakio Hospital Area, GR-50200 Ptolemaida, Greece)

  • Konstantinos Atsonios

    (Chemical Process and Energy Resources Institute, Centre for Research & Technology Hellas, 4th km. Ptolemaida Mpodosakio Hospital Area, GR-50200 Ptolemaida, Greece)

  • Panagiotis Grammelis

    (Chemical Process and Energy Resources Institute, Centre for Research & Technology Hellas, 4th km. Ptolemaida Mpodosakio Hospital Area, GR-50200 Ptolemaida, Greece)

  • Nikolaos G. Orfanoudakis

    (Laboratory for Technical Study, Design, Supervision, Efficiency and Evaluation of Thermal and Environmental Installations, Evripos Campus, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, GR-34400 Athens, Greece)

Abstract

The Paris Agreement’s objectives related to climate change put aviation under great pressure and environmental inspection. In particular, the aviation industry is committed to achieving a 50% reduction in CO 2 emissions by 2050 compared to 2005 levels. A shift to alternative aviation fuels seems imperative. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has identified the production of drop-in sustainable liquid fuels (SAFs) as the most promising strategy, at least short term, to reduce the environmental impact of the sector. Within this review, a critical summary of the current alternative aviation fuels/pathways is presented and a comparative analysis of the dominant technologies is performed considering techno-economic assessment, environmental evaluation, and future projections. The impact of the ‘ReFuelEU Aviation’ initiative on the current dominant policies and market incentives is assessed. Hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA), Fischer–Tropsch (FT) synthesis, alcohol-to-jet (AtJ) conversion, and e-fuel pathways are put under the microscope. A wide range of potential fuel selling prices (0.81–5.00 EUR/L) was observed due to the presence of multiple routes, while some pathways seem able to secure more than 90% emission savings compared to the fossil jet reference. The accelerated scale-up of SAF production is a reasonable demand for the aviation industry. The establishment of a sustainable scale-up framework and the alignment of all of the involved aviation stakeholders is an immediate challenge.

Suggested Citation

  • Nikolaos Detsios & Stella Theodoraki & Leda Maragoudaki & Konstantinos Atsonios & Panagiotis Grammelis & Nikolaos G. Orfanoudakis, 2023. "Recent Advances on Alternative Aviation Fuels/Pathways: A Critical Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-25, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:4:p:1904-:d:1068578
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    References listed on IDEAS

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