This spice can reduce the carbon footprint of aircraft by nearly 70 percent

The conclusion of a four-year research project is that aircraft using chemical fuels will not be history any time soon. A well-known herb might offer the solution.

Aviation is one of the most polluting modes of transport. In addition, unlike passenger cars, it is not quite clear how to make huge aircraft sustainable. Electric aircraft could be a solution, of course, but the bigger the battery a plane needs, the more weight it has to carry, and that leads to an insoluble vicious circle. At least in the case of large passenger carriers.

According to Airbus, one of the largest aircraft manufacturers, zero-emission aircraft could be available as early as 2030 for models built to fly short distances. However, for larger aircraft such as the A350, a single battery wouldn’t be enough, therefore, a set of complex technologies need to be combined - not to mention the fact that these monsters worth millions of dollars that would replace models sold just a few years before, also need to be manufactured and sold.

This contradiction could be resolved by research from the University of Georgia: Puneet Dwivedi and his team have been working for four years to develop a process that uses Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata) to reduce aircraft emissions by 68 percent. According to Dwivedi, the fuel extracted in this way could not only make aviation a much cleaner mode of transport but could even “create economic opportunities” for the southern regions, as large-scale cultivation of this plant could provide jobs for a great many people.

The fuel produced in this way would cost between 0.12 and 1.28 USD per litre, which, compared to the average price of 0.50 USD for petroleum-based aviation fuel, would be either significantly cheaper or drastically more expensive, depending on future economic trends. The necessary infrastructure is also an important factor, which has the advantage that, unlike petrol, mustard can be produced anywhere in the world. According to researchers, this includes the southern states of the United States, even in winter.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden has set the goal of a 20 percent drop in aviation emissions by 2030 and achieving a fully zero-carbon aviation sector by 2050 and would promote this transition with a tax cut.

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