Antonio La Mantia, Director of Communications and Events and Pietro Guarato, Technical Officer at our project partner CO2 Value Europe, have jointly written an article that shines a spotlight on the TAKE-OFF project. The article focuses on how Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) technologies and synthetic Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) can contribute to achieving aviation neutrality and a circular economy in view of 2050.
CCU is particularly crucial in hard-to-abate sectors like aviation, where electric planes are not yet a viable option. Furthermore, even aviation biofuels derived from biomass have limitations, often straining land and food resources.
The potential of CCU technology lies in its capacity to produce SAF by using captured CO₂ and renewable hydrogen. These synthetic fuels can significantly reduce aviation’s carbon footprint without competing with vital food resources.
The TAKE-OFF project takes a giant leap forward by enhancing the efficiency of SAF production. Through the development of a next-gen Power-to-SAF process, TAKE-OFF is transforming renewable hydrogen and captured CO₂ into light olefins, a key component of jet fuel. The optimisation of catalysts and the elimination of solvents are poised to lower energy consumption in the SAF production process, ultimately reducing fuel costs by 25% compared to other sustainable aviation fuels.
TAKE-OFF’s synthetic fuel also promises a substantial reduction in engine emissions, including a remarkable 100% decrease in sulfur emissions and reduced particulate matter emissions. By demonstrating the economic and environmental merits of this synthetic SAF on a smaller scale, it paves the way for large-scale production, ushering in a greener and more sustainable era for the aviation industry.
Read the full article here.
