A cutting-edge startup, Lydian Labs, is spearheading an innovative push for carbon-neutral aviation fuels derived from CO2 and electricity. This groundbreaking move aims to substantially cut carbon emissions in the increasingly electrified world, thereby keeping jet fuels viable in the fight against climate change.
Several companies are racing to develop feasible methods for transforming CO2 into flight-friendly fuels. The challenge lies in outperforming the affordability of conventional fossil fuels, a race many have failed. Lydian Labs shines brightly in this competitive landscape, driven by a unique approach simplifying the process instead of altering the chemistry itself.
According to Joe Rodden, co-founder and CEO of Lydian Labs, the primary focus is on rendering cheaper machinery and systems that can be operated flexibly. The inexpensive, efficient machinery underpins cost-effective e-fuel production without losing a beat.
Lydian Labs’ innovation is its use of a highly efficient catalyst to convert CO2 and hydrogen into jet fuel and oxygen. The company’s strategy hinges on leveraging plummeting prices of renewable power, making the most of these advantageous windows.
Ordinarily, companies maintain around-the-clock operations to maximize product output, an approach that doesn’t align with Lydian’s paradigm. Operating only part-time, Lydian has trimmed its reactors’ complex components, reducing costs significantly.
Once electricity prices hover between 3 to 4 cents per kilowatt-hour, Lydian’s e-fuel becomes competitive with biofuels. If electricity prices tumble further, Lydian stands to compete against fossil fuels.
The acceptance of Lydian’s e-fueled vision will depend on the market. With Europe capping airline emissions, the demand for biofuels and e-fuels is projected to soar. Alternatively, small airports challenged with exorbitant jet fuel deliveries may opt for Lydian’s reactors to produce fuel in-house.
Lydian’s vision extends beyond commercial aviation, anticipating a military application. With the U.S. military being the world’s largest consumer of fossil fuels, Lydian’s technology could shorten supply chains significantly, reducing vulnerability and cost. Backed by a DARPA award, Lydian Labs has successfully built a pilot plant in North Carolina, propelling them one step closer to a greener future.
Original source: Read the full article on TechCrunch
