Each year, the aerospace industry releases one billion metric tons of emissions, a figure that is projected to triple by 2050 unless significant sustainability measures are implemented.
Aircraft burn several tons of fossil fuels per trip, contributing significantly to global CO2 emissions. When these fuels burn, they release carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfate aerosols and water vapor resulting in detrimental effects on the ozone layer and increasing global temperatures.
There remains a heavy reliance on fossil fuels, with continuous pressure to minimize greenhouse gas emissions and airlines pledging to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, a shift towards more sustainable fuels and further innovations are on the horizon.
Advanced Aircraft Design
Aircraft manufacturers are already focusing on enhancing fuel efficiency and reducing weight to lower fuel consumption, an promote fewer emissions. However, further improvements to support this include:
Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs)
An alternative to traditional jet fuels, Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) creates a promising path to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
There are many roadblocks still to conquer with Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs), but a breakthrough will help the industry advance closer to its net-zero goal.
Urban Air Mobility
Another technological trend in aerospace sustainability is urban air mobility. This includes Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVOTL) & drone deliveries. eVTOLS are still in the beginning stages but promise to be revolutionary for both short and medium distance flights, while drones are used for increasing payload capacities in last-mile deliveries across cities.
Environmental Impact:
Propulsion Technology
Modern and future aircraft will move away from fossil-powered engines, driven by the push for sustainable flights. Advanced propulsion technologies aim to increase efficiency, extend fuel range, and improve aircraft performance.
Types of advanced propulsion systems include:
Electric propulsion uses rechargeable batteries to power motors. Hybrid systems combine fossil fuels with advanced technologies like electric, hydrogen, and fuel-cell systems.
Developing these systems requires redesigning aircraft and close collaboration between the aerospace and other sectors (e.g., the automotive industry for advancements in battery technology). But they stand to significantly improve fuel efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Optimization of Air Travel Management
Some airlines still rely on outdated air travel management systems, leading to inefficiency in route planning and asset management. Digitizing air travel management with advanced technologies, like Artificial Intelligence (AI), can improve route planning, asset maintenance, and overall operational efficiency.
AI-driven flight path planning can enhance fuel efficiency by optimizing routes based on weather conditions and market dynamics. Optimizing flight paths reduces
Digitizing customer management at terminals helps reduce paperwork and activities that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.
Achieving net-zero emissions in the aerospace industry requires comprehensive changes across all operations. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a shared responsibility, involving not just airlines but manufacturers and other supply chain factors.
The industry must adopt sustainable technologies to minimize waste and pollution, while leveraging advanced technology to enhance efficiency. The goal of sustainability-focused innovation is to ensure a safer, cleaner planet with net-zero emissions.