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Scientists Discover Way to Send Information into Black Holes Without Using Energy

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New Carbon-Conversion Technology Could Turn Emissions into Jet Fuel

As the world races to cut carbon emissions, scientists are searching for solutions that are not just innovative but also practical. One such breakthrough has come from researchers at RMIT University in Australia, who have developed a new carbon-conversion technology that could one day help turn industrial emissions into jet fuel. By simplifying how carbon dioxide (CO₂) is captured and recycled, this technology offers fresh hope for cutting emissions in some of the world’s hardest-to-decarbonise industries—especially aviation.

The big problem with carbon emissions

When factories, power plants, and refineries operate, they release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This gas is a major driver of climate change. While renewable energy and electrification can reduce emissions in many sectors, some industries—such as aviation, steel, and cement—remain difficult to decarbonise.

Aviation is a clear example. Long-distance flights require high-energy fuels, and current battery technology is not advanced enough to power large aircraft over long routes. As a result, airlines still depend heavily on fossil-based jet fuel. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is seen as a promising alternative, but global supply is far below demand. New ways to produce low-emissions jet fuel are urgently needed.

Why existing carbon-conversion methods fall short

For years, scientists have explored ways to capture carbon dioxide and convert it into useful products like fuels and chemicals. However, most existing approaches involve multiple complex steps. Typically, carbon dioxide is first captured and purified, then transported to another system where it is converted into chemicals or fuels.

This separation of steps creates major problems. It increases costs, consumes large amounts of energy, and makes the systems difficult to use in real industrial environments. As a result, many promising carbon-conversion ideas struggle to move beyond the laboratory.

A simpler, smarter approach from RMIT

The RMIT research team has taken a different path. Their new technology combines carbon removal and conversion into a single, integrated process. Instead of treating capture and conversion as separate stages, the system does both at once.

Distinguished Professor Tianyi Ma from RMIT’s School of Science explained the importance of this shift. Traditional systems, he said, have often been inefficient and energy-intensive. By bringing the steps together, the team has simplified the process and reduced unnecessary energy losses.

This integrated design means lower energy use, less complexity, and better suitability for real-world industrial settings—exactly what is needed if carbon-conversion technology is to be widely adopted.

Turning emissions into building blocks for jet fuel

It is important to clarify what the RMIT system does—and does not—do. The technology does not directly produce jet fuel. Instead, it converts carbon dioxide from industrial exhaust gases into basic chemical building blocks.

These building blocks can then be upgraded into low-emissions jet fuel and other carbon-based products using established industrial processes. In other words, the system creates the raw ingredients needed to make sustainable fuels and materials that are currently produced mainly from fossil resources.

This approach makes the technology highly flexible. The converted carbon could be used not only for aviation fuel but also for industrial chemicals, materials, and other products that modern economies rely on.

Designed for real industrial conditions

One of the most practical features of the RMIT system is that it does not require highly purified carbon dioxide. In many industrial settings, exhaust gases contain impurities that make carbon capture more difficult and expensive.

Dr Peng Li, the lead author of the study, said the research focused strongly on efficiency and practicality. By reducing the number of processing steps and lowering energy demand, the team has made the system better suited to real industrial environments. This means the technology could potentially be installed close to major emission sources, such as power stations or factories, without extensive pre-treatment of the gas.

A potential boost for aviation’s energy transition

Aviation remains one of the toughest sectors to decarbonise, and experts agree that no single solution will solve the problem. Battery-powered aircraft are unlikely to serve long-haul routes at scale anytime soon, and sustainable aviation fuel is still in short supply.

The RMIT technology is not intended to replace existing fuel technologies. Instead, it is positioned as a complementary option. By offering another pathway to generate materials needed for low-emissions jet fuel, it could help expand supply and reduce reliance on fossil fuels—especially near large industrial emission sources.

Independent expert Dr Federico Dattila from the Polytechnic University of Turin highlighted the significance of the work in the international journal Nature Energy. He noted that the advances bring industry closer to low-energy systems that can convert carbon dioxide in a fully integrated process.

Moving from lab to industry

Innovation does not end with scientific discovery. To make a real impact, technologies must be scaled up and tested under real-world conditions. The RMIT team has already taken important steps in this direction.

They have designed and completed a three-kilowatt prototype system to test performance under industrial conditions. The next milestone is a 20-kilowatt pilot system, which will further validate the technology and demonstrate how it integrates with actual carbon-emission sources.

This scale-up effort is being supported by strong industry engagement. The team is working with partners such as Viva Energy, Hart Bioenergy, T-Power, Aqualux Energy, CO2CRC, ViPlus Dairy, and CarbonNet. These collaborations help ensure the technology aligns with emissions-reduction goals while fitting into existing industrial infrastructure.

Professor Ma stressed that collaboration is essential. Scaling up, he said, must happen hand in hand with industry to understand what works in practice and what still needs improvement.

A realistic roadmap to commercial use

The research team has laid out a clear and realistic development timeline. Their goal is to build a 100-kilowatt demonstration system within the next five years and reach commercial-scale readiness in around six years. This staged approach allows time to test performance, costs, and durability before wider deployment.

Industry leaders see promise in the technology. Doug Hartmann, chief executive of Hart Bioenergy, said the innovation shows how emissions reduction can go hand in hand with cost efficiency and better energy use. According to him, it points to production processes that benefit the environment without ignoring economic realities.

Not a silver bullet, but a powerful tool

With growing interest from investors and industry partners, the team is now progressing toward a spin-off company from RMIT to explore commercial pathways. Future work will focus on larger-scale demonstrations and assessing how the system can contribute to producing jet fuel, industrial chemicals, and materials using converted carbon.

Professor Ma is clear about the bigger picture. This technology, he says, is not a silver bullet. Instead, it should be seen as one practical tool among many needed for the global energy transition. By reducing emissions while making use of existing systems, it can help industries and governments move steadily toward cleaner fuels.

The study, titled “Tandem amine scrubbing and CO₂ electrolysis via direct piperazine carbamate reduction,” has been published in the prestigious journal Nature Energy. It marks an important step forward in turning harmful emissions into valuable resources—and bringing the dream of cleaner skies a little closer to reality.

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