Kushaan Naskar

How can we use algae biofuels to make airplane fuels more eco-friendly?

Started Sept. 13, 2022

Abstract or project description

Abstract: Travel by air has been increasing significantly year to year and will double in the next 15 years. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is already looking at ways to reduce carbon emissions and bring this down to zero by 2050. Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is made up of fuel feedstocks such as agricultural crops or microorganisms like algae. Algae biofuels can perform as well as petroleum-based jet fuel but with much lower carbon footprint. It can reduce the emission of Green House Gas significantly compared to traditional jet fuel. Mass production of sustainable aviation fuel in comparison to petroleum fuel can also result in reducing nutrient losses and help the soil quality used for agricultural needs. Studies have also shown that biofuels can reduce pollution significantly as well as reduce the existence of methane gas from the atmosphere. Although SAFs provide many benefits, they only make up 1% of the aviation fuel used today. Algae ponds can produce 30 tons of fuel per acre of algal biomass which is considerably higher than biomass crops which typically produce 7-8 tons per acre. This paper will present the advantages of alternative aviation fuel made up of algae biofuel and the benefits of this SAF when produced at scale.