Jet fuel represents a remarkable achievement in modern technology, enabling commercial aircraft to transport hundreds of passengers across vast distances and allowing military jets to consistently surpass the speed of sound.
However, the conventional jet fuel we rely on may face extinction as global efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions intensify. With commercial aviation contributing to 2.5% of all carbon emissions, this figure could rise as other sectors embrace electrification, a strategy not feasible for long-haul journeys.
Nevertheless, jet fuel could receive a reprieve if it’s possible to synthesize it from carbon dioxide.
A number of startups are racing to create a cost-effective and efficient method to convert CO2 into a high-energy hydrocarbon, which could seamlessly substitute conventional jet fuel in aircraft. However, challenging the dominance of affordable fossil fuels is a significant obstacle that many companies have yet to clear.
One startup, Lydian, believes it has found a solution using a relatively straightforward methodology. “We’re not aiming to fundamentally alter the chemistry,” shared Joe Rodden, co-founder and CEO of Lydian, in an interview with TechCrunch. “Our goal is to make the plant and equipment substantially more affordable and operate them with greater flexibility.”
The first part of this strategy—lowering equipment costs—directly impacts the final price of Lydian’s e-fuel. The second part involves a clever strategy that utilizes a unique aspect of renewable energy: prices can sometimes plummet.
Lydian capitalizes on these price drops by employing an efficient catalyst to convert CO2 and hydrogen into jet fuel and oxygen, optimizing the use of the grid’s variable pricing. “By operating at reduced capacity, we can cut our power expenses by up to 50%,” stated Rodden.
For conventional plant operators, the idea of running equipment intermittently might not seem like a profitable strategy. Typically, such industrial facilities aim for continuous operations to maximize output from expensive machinery.
“In the chemical processing sector, optimization is traditionally centered around 24/7 operations,” Rodden explained. “However, reevaluating this assumption can lead to new insights. For example, we might determine that certain components can be eliminated.”
Rodden noted that operating Lydian’s reactors part-time has enabled the company to simplify its system, cutting out several complex components that would normally raise material and manufacturing costs.
As a result, Lydian can produce e-fuel that competes with biofuels when electricity costs are around 3 to 4 cents per kilowatt-hour, a price range typical of certain solar and wind facilities. If electricity prices fall below this point—which could happen by the end of the decade—Lydian might even compete directly with fossil fuels.
The level of competitiveness will depend on the market Lydian targets. For instance, Europe is introducing caps on airline emissions, which may drive up demand for biofuels and e-fuels, regardless of their higher costs compared to traditional jet fuel. Additionally, smaller airports that incur high costs for fueling delivery might consider setting up Lydian reactors to produce their own fuel.
However, Lydian’s vision extends beyond commercial aviation. The U.S. military is the largest individual consumer of fossil fuels globally, with jet fuel being a significant portion of that consumption. While obtaining supplies at domestic bases is manageable, forward bases in conflict zones face costly and complex supply chains vulnerable to attacks. During the period from 2003 to 2007, around 3,000 U.S. personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan were injured or killed while transporting fuel and water.
“That’s a scenario where the readiness to pay could be virtually limitless,” Rodden remarked.
Instead of relying on lengthy supply chains, Rodden imagines Lydian’s reactors producing fuel on-demand, using on-base renewable energy sources like solar, wind, or nuclear power. To further develop this technology, the startup has received funding from DARPA.
Lydian recently completed a pilot plant in North Carolina capable of generating up to 25 gallons of e-fuel daily. Though this may seem minimal compared to the fuel consumption rate of a Boeing 737-800 at cruising speed, which averages 25 gallons every minute and a half, Rodden noted that this output is significantly greater—100 times more than their laboratory production and 10,000 times more than two and a half years prior. The pilot plant will operate for a few years to collect data as the company constructs a larger commercial facility, with plans to finish it by 2027.
If Lydian can sustain this trajectory and the global reliance on fossil fuels continues to decline, e-fuels could emerge as the last remaining hydrocarbon option.
Compiled by Techarena.au.
Fanpage: TechArena.au
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