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Worldbuilding

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  • $\begingroup$ Synthesized energy dense fuels can get net zero CO2 emissions without the complications of battery power or microwave power transmission. Another alternative is using nuclear fission for power, which has been experimented with in the past on aircraft but deemed impractical. That could change if used on a large ekranoplan where the issues of weight is overcome with proper application of phenomenon like the cube-square law. $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 28, 2025 at 5:11
  • $\begingroup$ @MacGuffin the last attempt of a nuclear ramjet Cruise Missile was deemed "too provocative" during the height of the cold war. Project Pluto was also not 0 emission - it was designed to irradiate as much land as possible as it flew by. $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 28, 2025 at 8:23
  • $\begingroup$ @MacGuffin synthetic fuels still require raw materials which make "net zero" claims problematic, and they are at any rate very inefficient, around 20% (sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1364032120304755) for hydrocarbons in a car setting. Other types of fuels (ammonia, Al-air-batteries, hydrogen) are more promising but have their own problems and can't match the density of kerosene. That's not to say a microwave-powered GEV is necessarily better - I have my doubts about that too - but if you're making a case for it then emissions are your best bet. $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 28, 2025 at 8:52
  • $\begingroup$ @Trish There's more than one way to make a nuclear powered aircraft. One way is with no radiation shielding like Project Pluto, and another is with enough shielding to protect human life like I was thinking when I made mention of the idea. $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 28, 2025 at 12:02
  • $\begingroup$ @leftaroundabout Synthetic fuels do indeed require raw materials and to get the carbon and hydrogen require to synthesize jet fuel can come from all kinds of materials to maintain a net carbon neutral. It can be sawdust, shredded paper, grass clippings, kitchen and butcher waste, sewage, and so much else. As inefficient the process may be there's considerable value to be gained in turning a low value energy source into a high value fuel, such as using geothermal heat for powering the synthesis. The process may be inefficient but its turning cheap abundant heat to valued and rare fuel. $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 28, 2025 at 12:17