Researchers at RMIT have developed a carbon conversion technology that could transform industrial emissions into jet fuel by streamlining the recycling of carbon dioxide. The study was published in the journal Nature Energy.
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The system integrates carbon removal and conversion into a single streamlined process, minimizing energy consumption and simplifying the complexities that hinder many current methods. This technology is specifically tailored for practical industrial environments.
Distinguished Professor Tianyi Ma from RMIT’s School of Science stated that carbon conversion has historically been treated as distinct phases, which has led to higher costs and delayed advancements.
Current approaches had often been inefficient and energy-intensive. By bringing the steps of conversion together, we have been able to simplify the process and reduce unnecessary energy losses.
Tianyi Ma, Distinguished Professor, School of Science, RMIT University
The technology converts carbon dioxide emitted from industrial exhaust into fundamental chemical building blocks, which can be used to produce jet fuel and other products predominantly derived from fossil fuels.
The innovative system does not directly generate jet fuel; rather, it converts carbon dioxide into components that can be refined into low-emission jet fuel and other carbon-based products through recognized industrial methods.
A Practical Role in Aviation’s Transition
Aviation continues to be one of the most challenging sectors to decarbonize. Battery-powered aircraft are unlikely to operate long-distance routes on a large scale, and the demand for sustainable aviation fuel persists in surpassing global supply.
The RMIT system is designed as a supplementary alternative instead of substituting current fuel technologies. It provides an additional route to produce the materials required for low-emissions jet fuel and other carbon-based products, especially in proximity to significant and hard-to-abate sources of industrial emissions.
Our approach has reduced the number of processing steps and lowered energy demand compared with conventional systems. The RMIT system operates without the need for highly purified carbon dioxide, which is important in real industrial environments.
Dr. Peng Li, Study Lead Author, RMIT University
The study details a comprehensive carbon-conversion system. Dr. Federico Dattila, an independent expert from the Polytechnic University of Turin, notes that the team's progress has moved the industry closer to low-energy systems capable of converting CO2 through a fully integrated process.
Scaling up with Industry Partners
The team has been focused on scaling to ensure the technology can function beyond the confines of the laboratory. They have successfully designed and constructed a three-kilowatt prototype system to evaluate its performance in industrial settings.
The subsequent phase involves developing a 20-kilowatt pilot system to further validate the technology and demonstrate its integration with actual industrial carbon-emission sources.
This scaling initiative is bolstered by increasing engagement from the industry. The team is collaborating with Viva Energy, Hart Bioenergy, T-Power, Aqualux Energy, CO2CRC, ViPlus Dairy, and CarbonNet on the development of pilot-scale projects and future deployment strategies, ensuring that the technology is in line with emissions reduction objectives and the current industrial infrastructure.
Ma adds that collaboration was essential to moving from research to impact.
Scaling up has to happen hand in hand with industry. That is the only way to understand what would work in practice and what still needs improvement.
Tianyi Ma, Distinguished Professor, School of Science, RMIT University
The research team intends to create a 100-kilowatt demonstration system over the next five years and to reach commercial-scale readiness in approximately six years. This schedule represents a phased and pragmatic approach to validating performance, cost, and durability prior to broader deployment.
“This innovation has shown how emissions reduction could go alongside cost efficiency and better energy use. It points to production processes that can benefit the environment without ignoring economic realities,” said Doug Hartmann, Chief Executive, Hart Bioenergy.
Realistic Next Steps
With robust backing from industry collaborators and increasing interest from investors, the team is advancing with a spin-off company from RMIT to investigate commercial avenues for the technology.
Future advancements will focus on demonstrating performance at a larger scale and evaluating how the system could aid in the production of jet fuel, industrial chemicals, and materials derived from converted carbon.
Ma noted that the work should be seen as one component of a broader transition.
“This is not a silver bullet. It is about developing practical tools that could help industries and governments reduce emissions while making use of existing systems during the transition to cleaner fuels,” said Ma.
Journal Reference:
Li, P., et al. (2026) Tandem amine scrubbing and CO2 electrolysis via direct piperazine carbamate reduction. Nature Energy. DOI: 10.1038/s41560-025-01869-8. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41560-025-01869-8