Small planes are easier to electrify, but larger ones aren’t far behind
This article by Gökçin Çınar, University of Michigan originally appeared on the Conversation and is published here with permission.
Aerospace engineer and assistant professor Gökçin Çınar develops sustainable aviation concepts, including hybrid-electric planes and hydrogen fuel alternatives, at the University of Michigan. We asked her about the key ways to cut aviation emissions today and where technologies like electrification and hydrogen are headed.Aircraft are some of the most complex vehicles out there, but the biggest problem for electrifying them is the battery weight.
Hybrids would still burn fuel during flight, but it could be considerably less than just relying entirely on jet fuel. With electric hybrids, airlines could also make more use of regional airports, reducing congestion and time larger planes spend idling on the runway.Shorter term we’ll see more use of sustainable aviation fuels, or SAF. With today’s engines, you can dump sustainable aviation fuel into the same fuel tank and burn it. Fuels made from corn, oilseeds, algae and other fats are already being used.
Airlines can also optimize their operations in the short term, such as route planning to avoid flying nearly empty planes. That can also reduce emissions.Hydrogen fuel has been around a very long time, and when it’s green hydrogen – produced with water and electrolysis powered by renewable energy – it doesn’t produce carbon dioxide. It can also hold more energy per unit of mass than batteries.
Airbus is doing a lot of research on hydrogen combustion using modified gas turbine engines with an A380 platform, and aiming to have mature technology by 2025. Australia’s Rex airline expects to start testing a 34-seat, hydrogen-electric airplane for short hops in the next few years.
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