Social and economic co-investigator Dr Bing Xu presented a recent paper which aims to assess the performance of different alternative jet fuel pathways using a unique decision making method.

Abstract:

We design a multi-criteria decision-making analysis (MCDA)-based framework to assess competing alternative jet fuels (AJFs). Our analysis is based on a wide range of criteria and different forms of data and relationships, to evaluate different AJFs and to reflect the multiple interests and priorities from various stakeholders. This contrasts with conventional cost-benefit analysis (CBA) which typically focuses on the economic benefits at the expense of  environmental, technological and social aspects. Our work adds value to understand developing technologies to date, technical barriers to commercialization, other development drivers such as the availability and willingness of financial institutions to finance, businesses to invest in AJFs productions and its supply chains in the UK, policy support and regulation, and likely commercialization and scale-up potentials. By focusing on motives, attitudes and stakeholders rather than merely the technical and economic aspects of AJFs, our paper makes a new contribution to the field.