MIT Energy Initiative Launches Study of Sustainable Fuels for Hard-to-Decarbonize Transportation

June 09, 2026

Print This Article Share it With Friends

by Nancy W. Stauffer (MIT Energy Initiative) MIT experts will examine options for climate-friendly fuels for aviation, international shipping, long-haul trucking, and freight rail.

Earlier this year, the MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI) launched a major study to examine the sustainable fuel options for aviation, international shipping, long-haul trucking, and freight rail.

More than one-tenth of the world’s climate-warming greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions related to energy comes from these hard-to-decarbonize forms of transportation. And that fraction continues to increase. Hard-to-decarbonize refers to transportation modes with long distances that are difficult or impossible to electrify due to physical constraints related to energy density of battery technology or infrastructure requirements. If electrification is not an option, the alternative approach is to use fuels that have low and no overall lifecycle GHG emissions. Such fuels are often referred to as sustainable fuels.

MITEI’s two-year study, in which a team of experts is examining the options, will culminate in 2028 with a report to be titled The Future of Fuels: Pathways to Sustainable Transportation.

“This study will provide an authoritative analysis of the economics, lifecycle emissions, and technical feasibility of various sustainable fuels and make impartial recommendations about decarbonization of long-distance transportation sectors,” says William H. Green, director of the study, MITEI director, and Hoyt C. Hottel Professor of Chemical Engineering.

The study team is examining a range of feedstocks (such as straw, wood chips, and oilseeds) and a variety of pathways for conversion (such as fermentation, pyrolysis, and gasification) to sustainable liquid fuels for those tough transportation modes. For each combination of feedstock and conversion pathway, the team is assessing cost, lifecycle carbon intensity, other environmental impacts, land-use, scalability, and “technology readiness level.”

Overarching questions being addressed include:
• What combinations of feedstocks and conversion technologies are most promising?
• What are the current roadblocks standing in the way of those promising technologies?
• What is the expected cost of sustainable fuels?

Scope of the study

A major focus of the study is biofuels, which are fuels produced from biomass. Sources of biomass being considered include agricultural and forestry residues, energy crops (woody, herbaceous, oilseeds), and wastes. The processing methods include thermochemical, biochemical, and chemical conversions, and combinations of those methods. Various geographic regions are being targeted for analysis of biomass supply chains and the effects of policies and climate-change mitigation efforts on the use of land.

One important question regarding the biofuels option is whether there’s enough biomass in the world to cover the fuel needs of the hard-to-decarbonize transportation modes. Possibly not, if conventional conversion technology is used, says Randall Field, the executive director of the study and MITEI’s director of research. However, he notes that some experts believe there is a solution. “It’s called ‘hydrogen-enhanced’ biofuel production, which enables a larger fraction of biomass carbon to end up in the biofuel product. Then you have a fighting chance at having enough biomass for the job.” The MITEI study is delving into the possible effectiveness of that strategy.

The team is also considering so-called e-fuels, or electro-fuels, which are produced using electricity. Basically, electricity is used to split water into oxygen and hydrogen, and the hydrogen is combined with carbon. The focus is on using electricity generated by low-carbon sources—thus, wind, solar, or nuclear generators—to split the water to obtain the hydrogen, and the carbon will come from carbon dioxide captured from emissions or removed from the atmosphere—a practice called “direct-air capture.” One key question regarding e-fuels is: Under what conditions will e-fuels become economically viable?

In general, the study is emphasizing so-called drop-in fuels, meaning they can be used in existing engines and fuel-distribution infrastructure. “Fuels that are largely compatible with existing engines could eliminate potentially trillions of dollars of cost for fleet replacement and for infrastructure build out, while also helping us to accelerate the rate of decarbonization of the transportation sector,” says Field.

The study considers sustainable fuels and incorporates a comparison between the sustainable drop-in fuels and the major non-drop-in fuels, such as renewable methanol, ethanol, ammonia, and natural gas.

One more key aspect of the study is an analysis of the current domestic and international policies that shape the decarbonization of transportation, as well as policies that could enable a more efficient trajectory for this energy transition.

At the end of the study, the team will release a public report on results, findings, and recommendations, as well as present the major findings and recommendations from the study via a webcast.

Questions about the scope, technical approach, and study logistics may be addressed to Field at rpfield@mit.edu. Questions about supporting the study may be addressed to J.J. Laukaitis, MITEI director of member relations, at jjlaukai@mit.edu. READ MORE

Related articles

ABS Grants Approval for Nuclear Reactor Integration in Vessel Design Developed Through MIT Maritime Consortium (ABS)

Excerpt from ABS: ABS issued approval in principle (AIP) for the integration of a nuclear reactor into a cargo vessel propulsion system developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) and Capital Maritime Group.

This design uses a special synthetic fluid to carry heat from the reactor core. Today’s designs typically focus on micro-scale thermal outputs of 10 to 20 megawatts. The MIT design’s near-atmospheric operating pressure can allow for thinner, lighter reactor vessels, supporting modular construction and easier transport.

This is the first AIP to be granted through the MIT Maritime Consortium, where ABS, HD KSOE and Capital Maritime Group are founding members. ABS reviewed the reactor-to-machinery interface based on class requirements.

The consortium brings together academia and industry to advance technologies with the potential to reshape the maritime sector, including alternative fuels, new nuclear technologies, data-driven operational strategies, autonomy, cybersecurity and onboard manufacturing.

“As the industry evaluates new pathways for the future, this approval in principle highlights the value of collaboration with key stakeholders in advancing promising commercial nuclear technologies. The MIT reactor design is an interesting piece of technology. With characteristics that can support modular fabrication and vessel integration, these emerging technologies represent one possible pathway toward the safe, practical development of next-generation commercial shipping solutions,” said Patrick Ryan, ABS Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer.

“As global environmental regulations tighten, the maritime sector requires paradigm-shifting solutions. Nuclear energy represents one of the most promising alternatives to traditional fossil fuels. Through this successful collaboration with ABS, MIT, and Capital Maritime Group, we are proud to demonstrate our readiness to lead the eco-friendly vessel market by presenting a safe and innovative nuclear-powered shipping solution,” said Sangmin Park, Senior Vice President at HD KSOE and Head of Green Energy Research Laboratory.

“It is our responsibility as an industry to explore every potential solution, including those that challenge conventional thinking. Nuclear propulsion is one such frontier. Through our membership in the MIT Maritime Consortium alongside ABS and HD KSOE, we are committed to ensuring that any pathway to net zero is grounded in the non-negotiable highest standards of crew safety, vessel integrity, and environmental protection. This AIP is the first step in that process,” said Stergios Stergiou, Chief Sustainability Officer, Capital Clean Energy Carriers Corp.

“The MIT Maritime Consortium is a unique collaboration between academia and key industry stakeholders aiming to address critical gaps in the modernization of the commercial fleet through the development of bold technological solutions, industry standards, and policies. Our reactor design is one of the first concrete outcomes of this synergy, providing a realistic pathway towards nuclear propulsion for commercial vessels,” said Themis Sapsis, Koch Professor of Marine Technology at MIT and Co-director of the Maritime Consortium.

The AIP is part of the ABS New Technology Qualification (NTQ) service that provides a structured approach to support the early adoption and implementation of innovative solutions. Find more here and learn more about the MIT Maritime Consortium here. READ MORE