Aviation is a major culprit for the climate with large carbon dioxide emissions.

In recent years, airlines and aircraft manufacturers have begun experimenting with more environmentally friendly fuels, including biofuels.

There is now a technology where carbon dioxide is used together with hydrogen to produce what can be called electric fuel.

The parties involved, SAS, Vattenfall, Shell and Lanzatech, describe the project as very exciting and promising.

Carbon dioxide is captured from the local CHP plant in Uppsala, it is mixed with hydrogen gas, produced from fossil-free electricity.

Ethanol is released, which is then converted into aviation fuel.

- It's like mimicking photosynthesis, but a bit the other way around, says Andreas Regnell, strategy manager at Vattenfall.

Plenty of raw material

- And do you think that we will continue to fly, and if you think that bio-based will not be enough, then this is where we end up.

When the electric fuel is then burned, the carbon dioxide is emitted.

But you can then say a little simplified that the bad climate gas has been used twice - a reuse.

The plant that will produce the fuel is intended to be located next to Vattenfall's nuclear power plant in Forsmark in Uppland and the hope is that it can be in operation around 2026/2027.

The goal is to be able to get so much fuel that it is enough for 25 percent of all SAS traffic in the Nordic region from 2030.

Competitive

- No investment decisions have been made yet, but it looks like it can work really well, and that it will be competitive, says Lars Andersen Resare, head of sustainability at SAS.

The project feels very promising, thinks Andreas Regnell.

The element of uncertainty is how the authorities will classify the fuel.

- The regulatory issue is an important piece of the puzzle, he says.

The plant where hydrogen is to be produced will also consume a lot of electricity, around 250 MW, about a third as much as the fossil-free steel project Hybrit will consume.

Sure, it's a lot, Regnell states, but sees it rather as a promise to everyone who wants to build wind power - there will be a good demand for electricity.