Zero Emission Aircraft: The Future of Sustainable Flying

 

Zero Emission Aircraft
 Zero Emission Aircraft

Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Aviation

Aviation accounts for approximately 2-3% of total carbon dioxide emissions globally. The seen tremendous growth over the past few decades and passenger numbers are projected to continue rising significantly in the coming years. If left unchecked, emissions from air travel could undermine efforts to limit global temperature rise to well below 2°C as targeted by the Paris Agreement. According to the Air Transport Action Group, carbon dioxide emissions from commercial aviation are expected to grow by 300-700% by 2050 compared to 2020 levels under a business-as-usual scenario. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from aircraft is therefore essential to achieving sustainability targets.

Development of Electric and Hydrogen Aircraft

Several companies and research institutions are working on developing electric-powered aircraft that produce zero emissions. While battery technology is not yet advanced enough to enable long-range commercial airliners to be fully electric, shorter haul flights are within reach of current technology. Eviation, a US startup, is developing an all-electric 9-seat commuter aircraft called Alice with a range of up to 440 miles. Zero Emission Aircraft is scheduled to enter revenue service in 2027. Other electric aircraft in development include the 8-passenger Pipistrel Velis Electro and 9-seat Faradair BEHA. These aircraft rely on lithium-ion batteries but hydrogen fuel cells are also being explored as a potential zero-emissions power source for future aircraft.

Airbus, Rolls-Royce and ZeroAvia are among those working on hydrogen fuel cell propulsion systems. Hydrogen has a higher energy density than lithium batteries, potentially enabling longer ranges. In 2021, ZeroAvia completed a zero-emission, 80-minute flight of a six-seat aircraft powered by hydrogen fuel cells. The ambition is to develop commercially viable options for hydrogen regional aircraft seating up to 100 passengers with ranges of over 500 nautical miles by the end of this decade. Technical challenges remain around hydrogen storage and ensuring safety but advances are being made continuously as the technology matures.

Sustainable Aviation Fuels

While electric and zero emission aircraft will take time to be ready for commercial aviation, sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) offer a more immediately viable option to reduce emissions from existing planes. SAF can reduce carbon emissions by up to 80% over their lifecycle compared to regular jet fuel depending on the production process. They are currently blended at low mixes, up to 50%, with conventional fuel due to certification and supply constraints.

Notable SAF production pathways include using waste oils and fats as feedstock. Swedish company Neste has produced over 10 million gallons of SAF to date from waste and residue materials like cooking oil. International airline partners like Finnair and KLM have been operating numerous flights on blends containing Neste's renewable jet fuel. Production can also come from biomass sources like palm fatty acid or camelina crop oils. However, these may compete with food production if not properly certified. Synthetic SAF manufactured from renewable hydrogen and captured carbon is another avenue being explored to boost supply and certification for higher blend rates.

Policy Drivers and Climate Targets

Achieving the Paris Agreement goals will require scaling up the production and use of all forms of sustainable aviation fuels and zero-emissions aircraft technologies. Various policy mechanisms and targets have been introduced to accelerate this transition. The European Union's 'Fit for 55' plan aims to ramp up SAF blending to 63% by 2050. The US has adopted a SAF blending mandate of 3 billion gallons per year by 2030. National governments are also supporting R&D through green funding programs.

Airlines and aircraft manufacturers like Airbus are collaborating to achieve ambitious long-term emissions reduction goals. For instance, Airbus' 'Sky zero' vision targets zero emission aircraft entering service by 2035 and a split fleet including traditional and emerging zero-emission aircraft by 2050. Overall, rapid progress is being made but much more needs to be done across technology development, infrastructure investments, incentives and collaborations for zero-emission aviation to take off at scale by 2050. International coordination will also be key to sustainably manage the projected growth in global air travel.

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About Author:

Ravina Pandya, Content Writer, has a strong foothold in the market research industry. She specializes in writing well-researched articles from different industries, including food and beverages, information and technology, healthcare, chemical and materials, etc. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ravina-pandya-1a3984191)

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