Enhanced Sulfur Fuels for Solar Radiation Modification: Challenges and Opportunities

Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI) geoengineering postulates placing reflective particulates or their precursors into the stratosphere to mitigate global warming. Previous studies considered payload deployment in novel, high-flying cargo jets. We alternatively appraise sulfur-based fuels and additives, enhancing the typical 0.30wt% fuel sulfur content. This reduces the mass fraction of non-sulfur elements in the aircrafts total tanked load (fuel and payload). Potential benefits include cost savings from decreased fuel load and improvements in program performance due to increased altitude. We review fuel options, aircraft engineering, and industrial issues.