Challenges & opportunities for sustainable aviation

Abstract

The evaluation process for sustainable Jet fuel established at DLR, allows the assessment of various fuel production concepts regarding their technical, economic and ecological impacts. The economic assessment includes a software tool TEPET for standardized cost calculation for different production routes, plant size and location according to process engineering calculation standards. The ecological impact is based on the CO2 footprint of resources, process efficiency and byproduct credits calculating the CO2 abatement costs of each option. The final goal is a merit order of all feasible options of sustainable jet fuel production regarding their potential of lowering aviation’s CO2 emission. The technical, economic and ecological assessment methodology of DLR can be applied to new approaches of alternative fuels production helping technology development towards demonstration and deployment. The transparent justification of costs and benefits of new production routes supports technology roadmap preparation and monitoring.