The Future Of Air Travel Is Here … And It’s Pretty Corny

While ethanol isn’t a perfect form of fuel from an environmental standpoint, it is widely considered a much better alternative than fossil fuels and meets the broad definition of a sustainable energy source.

And the corn-based fuel is gaining particular interest from airlines who believe it could be the answer for reducing the industry’s massive carbon footprint.

A complicated concept

On the surface, corn might sound like an ideal crop from which to refine the jet fuel needed for commercial flights around the world. After all, it’s been quite effective at running automobiles for many years.

And President Joe Biden appears to be on board, asserting earlier this year: “Mark my words, the next 20 years, farmers are going to provide 95% of all the sustainable airline fuel.”

But is that goal actually attainable? Maybe not, according to water-use consultant Jeffrey Brobert.

“We’re on track to massively increase water usage without any real sense of how sensitive our aquifers are,” he said.

One gallon of ethanol requires hundreds of gallons of water, and increasing the supply exponentially for the airline industry could threaten the availability of humanity’s most important resource.

Airlines make an investment

The potential hurdles are significant, particularly since the percentage of corn crops used to create ethanol has already increased from about 10% in the aughts to about 40% now. But U.S. airlines say it’s a crucial element in their goal to cut carbon emissions entirely by mid-century.

They’re currently pushing for the same type of tax incentives that the automotive industry received and United Airlines is working with a Nebraska company to provide enough ethanol to fuel 50,000 flights per year.

Lauren Riley, the carrier’s chief sustainability officer, explained: “Sustainable aviation fuel is the best tool we have to decarbonize airplanes.”

Chris Agee December 1st, 2023

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