The researchers have implemented their system in the field and say the design could help the aviation industry become carbon neutral.
“We are the first to demonstrate the entire thermochemical process chain from water and CO2 to kerosene in a fully-integrated solar tower system,” said Aldo Steinfeld, a professor from ETH Zurich.
Previous attempts to produce aviation fuels through the use of solar energy have mostly been performed in the laboratory.
The aviation sector is responsible for about 5 per cent of global anthropogenic emissions causing climate change. It relies heavily on kerosene, or jet fuel, which is a liquid hydrocarbon fuel typically derived from crude oil. Currently, no clean alternative is available to power long-haul commercial flights at the global scale.
Image credit: IMDEA Energy
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