Diverse sustainable methods for future jet engine

Abstract

With global concerns over CO2 emissions and climate change, the aviation industry is investing in renewable fuels and sustainable engines. Bio-Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (Bio-SPK) and hydrogen are two significant biofuels that can replace fossil fuels in jet engines. Biofuel is considered a sustainable fuel; it is possible to replace fossil fuel in jet engines. Bio-SPK is an aviation fuel made from plant-derived lipids and processed to have similar properties to traditional jet fuel. It offers significant emissions savings compared to Jet-A1 but is not widely available due to high production costs and limited feedstock availability. While it can improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions, it has lower energy density than conventional aviation fuels, potentially reducing aircraft range or payload capacity. Hydrogen produces only water but requires careful extraction or manufacturing. Green hydrogen is carbon-neutral, grey hydrogen generates carbon, and blue hydrogen captures and stores carbon. However, most hydrogen is currently generated as grey hydrogen, which offers less environmental benefit than directly burning fossil fuels. This work provides an overview of current and future sustainable jet engine technologies.