Secret To Decarbonizing US Aviation Industry Might Be Right Under Our Feet

The aviation industry has left an indelible scar on the face of sustainability. Unfortunately, society has also become so dependent on the ease and reliability of getting to places by plane that it’s not plausible to get rid of air travel.

Instead, scientists are looking at alternative fuel sources to replace traditional gas. Recently, Rolls-Royce sought to prove the efficacy of a new hydrogen jet engine. Adding to that, scientists from Arizona State University have taken to prove how viable biofuel can be, specifically oil made from a rather unlikely source: rain-fed grass.
 
The team looked at two different types of grass, miscanthus—also know as silvergrass—and switchgrass. The study, published in Nature Sustainability, details how crops were planted on 23.2 million hectares of existing marginal agricultural lands to reduce the effects on the climate further. This could allow future farmers to utilize excess land of poor soil quality to be maximized for grass production.
 
Aside from this, the researchers were also sure to test if the growth of grass would affect surrounding soil where other types of agriculture could be nurtured. They also tried to see if the crops could flourish without requiring extra water. On top of that, the team wanted to ensure that the probability of producing the grass would be economically beneficial to future farmers.
 

The researchers project that there will be enough land across the US to provide the fuel demands of the US aviation sector, which is estimated to reach 30 billion gallons per year by 2024.
 
All told, it is estimated that petrol derived from miscanthus can meet this estimate and will cost an average of US$4.10 per gallon, which is double what is now being charged for traditional jet fuel.
 
Ultimately, the scientists took an interest in biofuel after realizing that fundamental change to the aviation industry must be done quickly and must ultimately also be feasible.
 
 
 
[via SciTechDaily and ScienceDaily, cover photo 101141823 © Denys Bilytskyi | Dreamstime.com]