Your poop could power planes by 2030, according to scientists

Posted by David Henning on 22 March 2023

Pooping on planes is set to become less awkward as scientists become more confident in the power of human waste to fuel planes.

Picture: Getaway Gallery

‘I think we’ll see the first one of these actually up in the air by 2030,’ Bill David, Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Oxford, had to say about this.

‘In principle, we can retrofit an Airbus A320 or a Boeing 787 and only touch the wing to essentially substitute ammonia for jet fuel,’ Professor David said.

While most believe hydrogen power is the solution to greening the aviation industry, ammonia, found in fertiliser, is another sustainable solution.

A report on Net Zero Aviation released by the Royal Society warned replacing traditional jet fuel with sustainable alternatives would require the UK to give up half of its agricultural land.

In an ambitious experiment, scientists demonstrated the ability of “wet” human waste, like rotting food and sewage, to power aeroplanes.

According to the study, there’s enough viable waste to replace 20% of overall jet fuel, which would also involve diverting wet waste from landfills. The recycled fuel could vanquish airline emissions and reduce waste, the scientists said. That represents about 4% of total greenhouse gases.

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