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Journal Article
Drop-in fuels from sunlight and air
2022
Overview
Aviation and shipping currently contribute approximately 8% of total anthropogenic CO
2
emissions, with growth in tourism and global trade projected to increase this contribution further
1
–
3
. Carbon-neutral transportation is feasible with electric motors powered by rechargeable batteries, but is challenging, if not impossible, for long-haul commercial travel, particularly air travel
4
. A promising solution are drop-in fuels (synthetic alternatives for petroleum-derived liquid hydrocarbon fuels such as kerosene, gasoline or diesel) made from H
2
O and CO
2
by solar-driven processes
5
–
7
. Among the many possible approaches, the thermochemical path using concentrated solar radiation as the source of high-temperature process heat offers potentially high production rates and efficiencies
8
, and can deliver truly carbon-neutral fuels if the required CO
2
is obtained directly from atmospheric air
9
. If H
2
O is also extracted from air
10
, feedstock sourcing and fuel production can be colocated in desert regions with high solar irradiation and limited access to water resources. While individual steps of such a scheme have been implemented, here we demonstrate the operation of the entire thermochemical solar fuel production chain, from H
2
O and CO
2
captured directly from ambient air to the synthesis of drop-in transportation fuels (for example, methanol and kerosene), with a modular 5 kW
thermal
pilot-scale solar system operated under field conditions. We further identify the research and development efforts and discuss the economic viability and policies required to bring these solar fuels to market.
Carbon-neutral hydrocarbon fuels can be produced using sunlight and air via a thermochemical solar fuel production chain, thus representing a pathway towards the long-term decarbonization of the aviation sector.
