About two weeks ago, after years of research, scientists discovered a fuel for aircraft based on plant derivatives that could reduce the huge impact they have on the environment.
The fuel is made from a type of mustard plant called Brassica Carinata that could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 68%, according to research from the University of Georgia. The study, led by Puneet Dwivedi, showed that sustainable aviation fuels could prove critical to replacing oil.
"Carinata-based sustainable fuels could help reduce the carbon footprint of the aviation sector by creating economic opportunities and improving the flow of ecosystem services," said Dwivedi, an associate professor at the Warnell School of Forests and Natural Resources.
The aviation industry is responsible for 2,5% of all US carbon dioxide emissions and 3,5% of global warming. The findings of the Dwivedi team come at the right time. Last September, US President Joe Biden proposed a tax credit on sustainable fuels as part of the big aviation fuel challenge.
As part of the challenge, it aims to reduce air emissions by 20% by 2030, with a view to achieving zero carbon emissions by 2050.