Alternative Fuels for General Aviation Piston Engines: A Comprehensive Review

Florentyna Morawska, Paula Kurzawska-Pietrowicz, Remigiusz Jasiński () and Andrzej Ziółkowski
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Florentyna Morawska: Faculty of Civil and Transport Engineering, Poznan University of Technology, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
Paula Kurzawska-Pietrowicz: Faculty of Civil and Transport Engineering, Poznan University of Technology, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
Remigiusz Jasiński: Faculty of Civil and Transport Engineering, Poznan University of Technology, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
Andrzej Ziółkowski: Faculty of Civil and Transport Engineering, Poznan University of Technology, 60-965 Poznan, Poland

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 19, 1-20

Abstract: This review synthesizes recent research on alternative fuels for piston-engine aircraft and related propulsion technologies. Biofuels show substantial promise but face technological, economic, and regulatory barriers to widespread adoption. Among liquid options, biodiesel offers a high cetane number and strong lubricity yet suffers from poor low-temperature flow and reduced combustion efficiency. Alcohol fuels (bioethanol, biomethanol) provide high octane numbers suited to high-compression engines but are limited by hygroscopicity and phase-separation risks. Higher-alcohols (biobutanol, biopropanol) combine favorable heating values with stable combustion and emerge as particularly promising candidates. Biokerosene closely matches conventional aviation kerosene and can function as a drop-in fuel with minimal engine modifications. Emissions outcomes are mixed across studies: certain biofuels reduce NO x or CO, while others elevate CO 2 and HC, underscoring the need to optimize combustion and advance second- to fourth-generation biofuel production pathways. Beyond biofuels, hydrogen engines and hybrid-electric systems offer compelling routes to lower emissions and improved efficiency, though they require new infrastructure, certification frameworks, and cost reductions. Demonstrated test flights with biofuels, synthetic fuels, and hydrogen confirm technical feasibility. Overall, no single option fully replaces aviation gasoline today; instead, a combined trajectory—biofuels alongside hydrogen and hybrid-electric propulsion—defines a pragmatic medium- to long-term pathway for decarbonizing general aviation.

Keywords: biofuels; aviation; biokerosene; aircraft piston engines; avgas (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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