Analyzing well-to-pump emissions of electric and conventional jet fuel for aircraft propulsion

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study is to show the emissions related to electric consumption in electric aviation. Aviation, being one of the main transportation and economical driver of global trade and consumerism, is responsible for an important ratio of anthropogenic emissions. Electric energy use in aircraft propulsion is gaining interest as a method of providing sustainable and environmentally friendly aviation. However, the production of electricity is more energy and emission sensitive compared to conventional jet fuel. Design/methodology/approach A well-to-pump (WTP) energy use and emission analysis were conducted to compare the electricity and conventional jet fuel emissions. For the calculations, a software and related database which is developed by Argonne’s Greenhouse gas, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Transportation (GREET®) model is used to determine WTP analysis for electricity production and delivery pathways and compared it to baseline conventional jet fuel. Findings The WTP results show that electricity production and transmission have nine times higher average emissions compared to WTP emissions of conventional jet fuel. The future projection of emission calculations presented in this paper reveals that generating electricity from more renewable sources provides only a 50% reduction in general emissions. The electricity emission results are sensitive to the sources of production. Originality/value The main focus of this study is to analyze the WTP emissions of electric energy and conventional jet fuel for use on hybrid aircraft propulsion.