World's first solar jet fuel

♤ An EU-funded research project called Solar Jet has produced the world's first 'solar' jet fuel from water and carbon dioxide. Researchers have successfully demonstrated the entire production chain for renewable kerosene using concentrated light as a hightemperature energy source.

♤ The idea is to extract carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and converting it into fuel. At high temperatures carbon dioxide and water dissociate into hydrogen, carbon monoxide and oxygen. The hydrogen and carbon monoxide mixture, known as synthesis gas or ‘syngas’, can then be converted into liquid hydrocarbons such as petrol or kerosene.

♤ The project is still at an experimental stage and just a glassful of jet fuel was produced in lab conditions using simulated sunlight.This technology means we might one day produce cleaner and plentiful fuel for planes, cars and other forms of transport.This could greatly increase energy security and turn one of the main greenhouse gases responsible for global warming into a useful resource.