Study
Power-to-Liquids – A scalable and sustainable fuel supply perspective for aviation
Authors: Patrick R. Schmidt; Werner Weindorf; Tetyana Raksha
Date: March 2022
| The energy, mobility and sustainability expert consultants of Ludwig-Bölkow-Systemtechnik GmbH (LBST) and aviation technology experts of Bauhaus Luftfahrt e.V. (BHL) have again teamed up to update their groundbreaking publication on power-to-liquids (PtL) for aviation commissioned by the German Federal Environmental Agency (UBA).
PtL fuels are widely acknowledged as an important option to make aviation CO2 neutral, and the industrial production of PtL fuels has come within reach. The updated version of the background paper gives a review of the basic principles of PtL production routes and draws a comparison between competing fuel options based on sustainability criteria. In order to be able to produce sustainable PtL fuels in the required quantities, it is necessary to use renewable electricity from solar and wind energy, as well as sustainable carbon sources. In addition, the study discusses economic considerations, the technical suitability of PtL fuels, the influence of synthetic fuels on pollutant emissions and high-altitude climate impact, and a potential ramp-up of PtL production capacities. Also included are considerations on power-to-hydrogen (PtH2) as a potential sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in the mid to long-term future. Further information can be found here. |