Comparative life cycle evaluation of alternative fuels for a futuristic subsonic long-range aircraft
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Published version
Author(s)
Jagtap, Swapnil S
Childs, Peter RN
Stettler, Marc EJ
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Liquid hydrogen (LH2) and 100 % synthetic paraffinic kerosene (SPK), or sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), represent viable alternatives to conventional Jet-A for long-haul aviation, provided they are produced via pathways enabling net-zero well-to-wake (WTWa) emissions. This study evaluates the WTWa performance, including non-CO2 emissions, of a blended wing body aircraft (300 passengers, 13,890 km range) powered by either LH2 or 100 % SPK. Use-phase emissions are quantified, and fuel production impacts are assessed using the GREET model. Analysis of over 100 production pathways reveals that LH2 can achieve net-zero or negative WTWa CO2-equivalent emissions when produced from biomass or integrated fermentation with carbon sequestration. Non-CO2 emissions are shown to contribute significantly to WTWa impacts. When miscanthus is used as a feedstock, 100 % SPK reduces WTWa CO2-equivalent emissions by 70–85 % compared to Jet-A. A high-level supply analysis indicates that SAF and hydrogen production in 2050 could meet the energy demands of long-haul aviation, assuming a 4 % annual traffic growth rate and full adoption of these fuels. These findings provide critical insights to guide R&D investments, fuel cost analyses, and aviation policy development for sustainable long-haul aviation.
Date Issued
2025-06-01
Date Acceptance
2025-04-12
Citation
Sustainable Production and Consumption, 2025, 56, pp.431-446
ISSN
2352-5509
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
431
End Page
446
Journal / Book Title
Sustainable Production and Consumption
Volume
56
Copyright Statement
© 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Institution of Chemical Engineers. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Identifier
10.1016/j.spc.2025.04.008
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2025-04-16