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Sustainable aviation fuel, made from bio-based sources instead of petroleum, plays a key role in reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. But developing sustainable aviation fuel, also known as biojet, is not an easy task.

Researchers need to undergo several processes in order to identify a potential biojet fuel and begin successful production in a pilot facility. Often, this means spending time and money in the lab doing trial-and-error basic research and later scaling up production to make enough fuel for testing

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Techno-economic analysis is the first to model PNNL technology across wastewater facilities

Wastewater—American households produce billions of gallons of it daily, from flushing toilets to cleaning clothes.

But wastewater is not just a waste. The energy, nutrients, and metals contained in the untreated sludge at thousands of the nation’s wastewater resource recovery facilities have the potential to be transformed into a renewable, cost-effective feedstock for liquid transportation biofuels.

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Not all of the challenge of reducing transportation-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is found at the end of automobile tailpipes. The aviation sector currently accounts for more than ten percent of U.S. transportation-related GHG emissions. To address this issue, the White House recently announced a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Grand Challenge to generate at least 3 billion gallons of SAFs by 2030 and, by 2050, sufficient SAFs to meet 100 percent of U.S. aviation fuel demand, currently projected to be around 35 billion gallons annually. Meanwhile, the International Air Transportation Association (IATA), which represents major global airlines, has committed to net-zero carbon emissions from global air transportation by 2050.

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For more than two centuries, a 45-acre patch of land on the northwest tip of Hawaii’s Big Island has been turning into an arid wasteland. The sandalwood forest that once filled the area was torn down by loggers in the 19th century and animal grazing has prevented the emergence of new trees that would take their place. With little rainfall and no tree cover, the soil slowly dried out and the land became barren. Around 90 per cent of all Hawaii’s tropical dry forests have followed a similar path, leaving just a handful of these rare ecosystems scattered across the state.

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Each year, the U.S. Department of Energy designates October as Energy Awareness Month. During the month, many schools undertake energy efficiency and conservation activities. These classroom activities connect well to student homes as many families approach the winter heating season. Using energy wisely makes sense – both for the environment and for economics.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. climate envoy John Kerry is tempering expectations for a U.N. climate summit sometimes billed as make-or-break for the Earth’s future, conceding next month’s talks likely will end with nations still short of the target of cuts in coal and petroleum emissions that are needed to stave off increasingly devastating levels of global warming.

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Domestic production of renewable energy (i.e., biofuels, biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar, wind) reached an all-time high in the first six months of this year, according to a SUN DAY Campaign analysis of new data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

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CLASSROOM RESOURCES
Lesson Plans
Search through the Education Toolbox to find lesson plans and lab activities for use in your classroom. Filter by subject, grade level, and energy literacy principle.

Coloring and Activity Book
The Coloring and Activity Book is designed for children as a fun learning tool to inform them about bioenergy and raise their awareness of alternative fuel sources and renewable energy.

Biomass Basics: The Facts About Bioenergy
Biomass Basics provides general information about bioenergy, its creation, and potential uses.

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Free energy education resources.

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Google and YouTube are taking a stand against climate misinformation, announcing a new policy that will demonetize climate denial content beginning Nov. 1. Google's decision to no longer display ads on "content that contradicts well-established scientific consensus" coincides with the upcoming United Nations Climate Summit in Glasgow. Meanwhile, even though YouTube has cracked down on COVID-19 misinformation by taking down a number of channels, it's now reviewing a major German channel after Axios reported its false claims have stayed up.

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