The World Economic Forum has introduced three new measures that could cut European Union aviation emissions by two-thirds by 2050, which include sustainable aviation fuels, open fan architecture, and new propulsion systems.
The same noted that replacing kerosene used to fuel aeroplanes with sustainable alternatives holds significant promise for cutting emissions from flights.
Sustainable aviation fuels are largely made from forestry or agricultural waste rather than being derived from fossil fuels, giving them the potential to reduce airline CO2 emissions by about 70 per cent.
Aviation accounts for nearly three per cent of global human-generated CO2 emissions and without action it could surge to 22 per cent by 2050, according to aviation-industry group Energy Transitions Commission.
Airlines belonging to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, meaning that the volume of CO2 emitted by airlines is balanced by the volume of emissions removed from the atmosphere.
In addition to sustainable aviation fuels, other measures include open fan architecture new propulsion systems.
The aviation industry’s sustainability agenda also consists of a reassessment of the design approach for aero engines.
In addition, according to the statement, hybrid electric propulsion is also being incorporated into a radical new type of power unit for aircraft.
New propulsion technologies will play an important role in achieving aviation’s net-zero goals, along with new aircraft designs and sustainable energy sources.
A collaboration of aviation as well as aerospace companies, including Airbus, Pratt and Whitney, GKN Aerospace, and Collins Aerospace, has allied with the University of Stuttgart for the Sustainable Water-Injecting Turbofan Comprising Hybrid-Electrics (SWITCH) project.
The initiative combines hybrid-electric propulsion with water-enhanced turbofans (WET), which enhance flight efficiency by capturing water vapor from the aircraft’s exhaust and reintroducing it into the engine’s combustion chamber.
Innovating to streamline operations and develop low-carbon solutions is an important part of aviation industry efforts to reach net-zero emissions, but more needs to be done.
In July this year, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) introduced a set of roadmaps created to help the aviation industry attain net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The roadmaps consist of aircraft technology, operations, energy infrastructure finance, as well as policy considerations that would help to reach the net-zero emissions goal.
Last year, IATA urged the Member States to work immediately on increasing the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) in alignment with their goal.
IATA’s Director General, Willie Walsh, threw accusations towards governments for the production and utilization of SAF, stressing that they are not required to invent a playbook after the transition of electricity production to more sustainable sources such as solar or wind has proven to be successful.
