Researchers at the Shanghai Advanced Research Institute are developing a process to transform carbon dioxide and water into long chain hydrocarbons. This technology aims to produce energy dense liquid aviation fuel by effectively reversing the combustion process. The project seeks to move beyond laboratory settings into large scale production. If commercialized, this method could reduce the aviation industry's reliance on fossil fuels and provide a way to recycle carbon emissions.
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China is pushing a way to turn CO2 into jet fuel to hedge against energy price spikes. It is basically reversing combustion using waste gas and water. Worth a look if the scale up actually works.
The chemistry is one thing, but the energy input is the real question. Where is the electricity for this conversion coming from? If it is not 100 percent renewable, the carbon math does not add up.
Scaling this to an industrial level usually hits a wall with catalyst degradation and heat management. I would like to see the actual yield numbers before calling this a breakthrough.
The report mentions price spikes as a driver. This suggests the tech is being framed as energy security rather than just climate policy. I wonder how they plan to account for the carbon credits here.
