Firing Up the Future: TU Freiberg's Journey Towards a Greener Sky
Research into climate-friendly jet fuel conducted by TU Freiberg - Investigation into Carbon-Free Kerosene Alternatives
Here's the scoop on what's brewing at the TU Bergakademie Freiberg, along with their pals at CAC Engineering. They've set up the largest facility in Germany to cook up some climate-friendly jet fuel, using methanol as their secret ingredient. And guess what? They've already taken the first delicious sip, making it another step forward in the delicious world of synthetic jet fuel!
The Spicy Detail: Funded by the Federal Government
As part of a juicy federally-funded research project, they're cranking up the heat to fine-tune and advance their tasty tech. The docs say this R&D will provide a solid foundation for industrial application. In around four to six years, they're planning to cook up Germany's first meaty industrial-scale commercial plant for sustainable synthetic jet fuel based on methanol [1].
The TU has been playing around with alternative fuels for a while now, including those tasty e-fuels - liquids produced using renewable energy! Their main ingredient, methanol, is made regeneratively, using carbon dioxide and hydrogen. Unlike traditional methods, this baby can be whipped up at "energy-favored locations," easily transported as a liquid energy carrier, and readied for grilling at sites with proper infrastructure [2].
Industrial cooking is scheduled for 2030. These environmentally-friendly aviation fuels are set to progressively replace good ol' fossil kerosene. Short-trip flights can switch to electricity, but long-haul flights require a high energy density to cover lengthy distances [2].
The Freibergers are planning to submit their first jet fuel samples for certification in 2026 and commission a commercial production plant with an annual capacity of 10,000 tonnes by 2030 [3]. That's a substantial amount of green fuel to keep those planes flying high!
- The Recipe: Methanol, e-fuels, and lots of good vibes!
- The Cooks: TU Bergakademie Freiberg and pals at CAC Engineering
- The Dish: Climate-neutral jet fuel
- The Location: Saxony, Germany
[1] EwOPro Project Overview
[2] TU Bergakademie Freiberg Research on Alternative Fuels
[3] SAF to Gradually Replace Fossil Kerosene
- The TU Freiberg's climate-friendly jet fuel research project, funded by the Federal Government, is focused on fine-tuning and advancing the technology with the aim of industrial application.
- The research programme, involving methanol as the key ingredient, will provide a solid foundation for future industrial production of synthetic jet fuel, with plans to establish Germany's first commercial plant in around four to six years.
- The TU Freiberg and CAC Engineering's research programme on alternative fuels, including e-fuels, aims to create climate-neutral jet fuel, with methanol being produced regeneratively using carbon dioxide and hydrogen.
- The industrial production of these environmentally-friendly aviation fuels is scheduled for 2030, with the intent to gradually replace fossil kerosene, especially for long-haul flights that require high energy density.
