Bio-fuels have made plenty of buzz recently. A new research promises to go a step further and bring down fuel costs for aviation considerably. Currently, a current barrel of gasoline costs as little as $2.50 per gallon.
On the other hand, modest estimates of bio-fuel is as high as $16 per gallon. Hence, currently it is impossible for the aviation to industry to bring down their emissions. To make matters worse, other energy options such as solar energy do not show much promise.
Weight limits on aircrafts make it unviable to adapt to use large solar batteries or cells. Additionally, the new research also promises advantages of superior performance as compared to traditional sources of fuels.
Berkeley National Laboratory was a home to this research, led by the Department of Energy. Corinne Scown, the lead researcher said, use of carbohydrate-rich plant material and genetically modified bacteria are worth the vast amount of effort required.
A Long Road Ahead
Researchers at Berkeley National Laboratory used computer stimulations to explore the future roadmap of cost-cuttings in bio-fuels. They pitted various biomass and chemical inputs against a complex set of factors such as technology, economies of scale, and various efficiency levels.
According to the team, bio-fuels can become available for as low as $2.50 per gallon in the near future. However, increasing advancements on part of airlines and government would be necessary to achieve this goal.
Recycling bio-fuel products would open new opportunities for the aviation industry. Additionally, government initiatives like a subsidy or tax credit for emission reductions can also help with driving down prices.
The research may just open new doors of opportunities for a troubled aviation industry.
