Articles tagged with "sustainable-fuels"
Addressing the Scale-Up Challenge for Clean Energy Process Technologies - CleanTechnica
The article by Dhruv Soni highlights the critical challenge of scaling up clean energy process technologies in the United States amid the urgent need to address climate change. While the U.S. leads in early-stage innovation across sectors like carbon capture, hydrogen, sustainable fuels, and battery materials, it currently lags in scaling these technologies to commercial levels—a role increasingly filled by countries like China. The traditional model of innovation ("zero-to-one") followed by external scale-up ("one-to-one-hundred") is no longer sufficient given intensifying environmental crises, geopolitical shifts, and the pressing timeline to meet 2030 and 2050 emissions targets. Scientific innovation is no longer the bottleneck; rather, the key challenge lies in deploying technologies at scale and rebuilding domestic industrial capacity. Scale-up in chemical engineering involves increasing process throughput from lab or pilot scales to commercial scales, a transition fraught with technical, financial, and operational complexities. Physical and chemical behaviors do not scale linearly, and first-of-a-kind
energyclean-energyprocess-scale-upsustainable-fuelsbattery-materialscarbon-capturehydrogen-energyHow engineers plan world's first hydrogen-powered hypersonic jet
The article discusses the development of the world’s first hydrogen-powered hypersonic jet, highlighting the efforts of Hypersonix Launch Systems, a Brisbane-based aerospace startup. Building on the legacy of the SR-71 Blackbird, the new generation of hypersonic aircraft aims to achieve sustained speeds of Mach 5 to Mach 12 using hydrogen-fueled scramjet engines. Hypersonix’s Spartan scramjet engine, entirely 3D-printed from high-temperature alloys, is designed for efficiency and thermal resilience at these extreme speeds. Their 11.5-foot DART AE demonstrator, scheduled for a test flight from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, seeks to prove the viability of green hydrogen as a clean, high-energy fuel for hypersonic propulsion, potentially transforming both military and civilian aviation. This development is part of a broader global race in hypersonic technology, driven by strategic defense competition involving the US, China, Russia, and European entities. While other companies and agencies
energyhydrogen-fuelhypersonic-flightaerospace-engineeringscramjet-enginessustainable-fuelsadvanced-manufacturingIf Done Right, EU Military Mobility Can Generate Clear Benefits for People and the Climate - CleanTechnica
The European Commission has introduced an EU Military Mobility Package aimed at facilitating the rapid movement of troops and equipment across borders in response to current geopolitical challenges. The green transport organization Transport & Environment (T&E) supports the proposal, emphasizing that if implemented effectively, it could also deliver significant benefits for the public and the environment. Central to this is upgrading cross-border rail infrastructure and accelerating the deployment of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS), which has been hindered by national fragmentation and differing regulations. This initiative presents a unique chance to modernize rail networks and advance toward a unified European railway market. T&E also welcomes the package’s promotion of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and Sustainable Maritime Fuels (SMF) to enhance energy security and resilience. They advocate for prioritizing e-SAF and e-SMF, which can be scaled domestically without feedstock constraints, alongside a focus on European shipbuilding, particularly battery-powered vessels. William Todts, T&E’s executive director, stressed
energysustainable-fuelsclean-transportationrail-infrastructurebattery-powered-shipsEuropean-Rail-Traffic-Management-Systemenergy-securityBrazil’s Sustainable Fuels Pledge Is Dangerously Ambitious and Risks Repeating Mistakes of the Past - CleanTechnica
The article discusses Brazil’s recent pledge, alongside India, Italy, and Japan, to quadruple global sustainable fuel use by 2035, a goal that implies more than doubling biofuel consumption. While Brazil’s commitment to reducing fossil fuel reliance in transport is positive, the article warns that such a rapid expansion of biofuels risks repeating past environmental mistakes. Historically, biofuel growth has driven significant deforestation and ecosystem damage, as seen with palm oil in Southeast Asia, where increased demand led to habitat destruction and a net rise in carbon emissions despite intentions to reduce them. The article highlights that the International Energy Agency (IEA) cautions against land expansion for biofuel crops, a critical caveat missing from Brazil’s pledge, raising concerns about sustainability. Brazil, the world’s second-largest biofuel producer, has long promoted biofuels through policies like RenovaBio, heavily relying on crops such as sugarcane, corn, and soy. These crops can lead to land degradation, water stress
energybiofuelssustainable-fuelsclimate-changedeforestationrenewable-energyBrazil-energy-policySwedish team's new approach could help develop sustainable solar fuels
Swedish researchers from Lund University have made a significant breakthrough in developing sustainable solar fuels by improving the efficiency of iron-based systems for solar energy conversion. Their study reveals previously hidden mechanisms that enable iron-based molecules to transfer electrical charge more effectively to acceptor molecules, a critical step in producing solar fuels like green hydrogen. This advancement addresses a major challenge where energy loss occurs because acceptor molecules tend to adhere to catalysts before charge transfer completes. By using advanced molecular-level calculations, the team discovered that neighboring molecules assist in completing the charge transfer, thereby reducing energy losses and enhancing system efficiency. This research is an important step toward making solar fuel production viable using common, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly metals such as iron, as opposed to costly rare Earth metals. While the study focuses on optimizing the initial charge separation process, further work is needed to develop finished solar fuels. Ultimately, these findings could contribute to producing cheaper and more sustainable solar fuels, which are crucial for decarbonizing energy systems in transportation, heating,
solar-energysustainable-fuelsiron-based-catalystsenergy-efficiencygreen-hydrogendecarbonizationrenewable-energy-materialsInnovative catalyst transforms plastic trash into liquid fuels
A research team led by the University of Delaware has developed an innovative mesoporous MXene catalyst that significantly improves the conversion of plastic waste into liquid fuels. This catalyst enhances the hydrogenolysis process, which breaks down polymers in plastics using hydrogen gas and a catalyst. Unlike conventional catalysts that struggle with bulky polymer molecules, the mesoporous MXene catalyst features silica pillars inserted between its stacked two-dimensional layers, allowing polymers to flow more easily and increasing reaction rates nearly twofold. Tested on low-density polyethylene (LDPE), a common plastic, the catalyst not only accelerated the conversion but also improved fuel quality by producing liquid fuels efficiently while minimizing unwanted byproducts like methane. The success of this catalyst is attributed to the stabilization of ruthenium nanoparticles within the MXene layers, which enhances both speed and selectivity in the plastic-to-fuel conversion. This advancement points to a more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly method for plastic upcycling, turning plastic waste into valuable fuels and chemicals rather than letting it accumulate as
energycatalystplastic-recyclingMXenenanomaterialssustainable-fuelschemical-engineeringHyundai Hypes Ridiculous Hydrogen Dream Decades Out of Date - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica critiques Hyundai Motor Group’s recent promotion of hydrogen fuel at the 1st Ministerial Meeting on Sustainable Fuels and the 7th Hydrogen Energy Ministerial Meeting in Osaka, Japan. Hyundai emphasized hydrogen’s “pivotal role” in the future of clean energy and reaffirmed its nearly three-decade commitment to hydrogen innovation, calling for stronger policy and regulatory support to scale hydrogen ecosystems globally. The meeting involved over 25 countries and international organizations like the IEA and IRENA, focusing on strategies to stimulate global demand for hydrogen and its derivatives. However, the article strongly challenges Hyundai’s stance, labeling the hydrogen hype as outdated and disconnected from current market realities. It argues that despite decades of investment and government funding, hydrogen remains a niche solution with limited practical application compared to the rapid advancements and adoption of battery electric vehicles (BEVs). The author views Hyundai’s continued promotion of hydrogen, especially in Japan where hydrogen enthusiasm persists, as an anachronistic and
energyhydrogen-energyclean-energyHyundaisustainable-fuelsenergy-transitionhydrogen-innovationChina to produce 400,000 tons of green methanol from farm waste
Chinese electrolyzer manufacturer LONGi Green Energy has launched a $325 million project in Inner Mongolia to produce 400,000 tons of green methanol annually from 600,000 tons of agricultural waste. The facility, located in Urad Rear Banner Industrial Park, will operate in two phases: phase one will convert 190,000 tons of biomass such as sunflower stalks and corn stover into methanol via gasification and catalytic synthesis, while phase two will add capacity for another 210,000 tons using hydrogen generated by 100 of LONGi’s 5-megawatt electrolyzers powered by 850 MW of wind and 200 MW of solar energy. The project aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1.2 million tons per year and contribute over 1 gigawatt of renewable energy capacity to the region. This initiative is part of LONGi’s broader strategy to advance low-carbon fuels and support China’s carbon neutrality goals by developing green methanol as a sustainable alternative fuel and
energygreen-methanolbiomass-gasificationrenewable-energyhydrogen-productioncarbon-neutralitysustainable-fuelsCan Formula E's 2026 Gen4 AWD Cars Compete With F1? - CleanTechnica
The upcoming Formula E Gen4 cars, set to debut in the 2026-2027 season, will feature significant performance upgrades, including a maximum power output of 600 kW and regenerative braking capability increased to 700 kW. Early testing has shown these all-electric vehicles can reach speeds over 210 mph, aided by advanced aerodynamic features such as a narrow nose and multi-element front wing designed for real-time adjustments. The chassis will continue to be supplied by Spark, with batteries from Podium Advanced Technologies, and Bridgestone will introduce two tire options for the first time in Formula E history to improve performance in wet conditions. Major manufacturers like Nissan, Jaguar, Porsche, Maserati, and Lola have committed to participating with the Gen4 cars. In comparison, the 2026 Formula 1 cars will maintain their status as the fastest open-wheel racers, with key changes including a 30% reduction in downforce, 55% less drag, and a minimum weight of 768 kg
energyelectric-vehiclesFormula-Ebattery-technologysustainable-fuelsaerodynamicsmotorsport-technologyWorld's fastest supercomputer helps design high-speed VTOL plane
XTI Aerospace is accelerating the development of its TriFan 600 vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft by leveraging the computational power of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Frontier supercomputer, previously the world’s fastest. Using over 1,500 complex computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations on Frontier, XTI engineers have refined the aircraft’s aerodynamic design, enabling more efficient and precise modeling across various flight scenarios. The TriFan 600 is designed to carry six passengers at speeds up to 345 mph (555 km/h), cruise at 25,000 feet, and reduce emissions by 80% through the use of sustainable aviation fuels. The next development stages include wind tunnel testing and FAA certification. The Frontier supercomputer’s exascale-class performance—capable of over a quintillion calculations per second—has provided XTI a critical advantage by compressing engineering timelines and reducing design risks. In addition to aerodynamic improvements, XTI recently enhanced the TriFan 600’s fuel system
energysustainable-fuelsVTOL-aircraftsupercomputer-simulationaerodynamic-designcomputational-fluid-dynamicsaviation-technology