SUSTAINABLE MOMENTUM

Zero-emission aviation is moving ahead with several concepts nearing maturity

-  ATUL CHANDRA

The air transport industry's efforts at decarbonising aviation in the long term will bring about the sector as never seen before. There are numerous efforts underway worldwide to develop zero-emission aircraft powered by non-fossil fuel sources. Electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft concepts have emerged as one of the most viable sources for zero-emission transport. Electric propulsion will not only enhance aircraft performance but do so with low or no emissions, reduced operating costs and low noise. In March this year, the Vertical Flight Society (VFS), the world's leading non-profit organisation working to advance vertical flight, announced that the number of such aircraft being tracked in its World eVTOL Aircraft Directory has now exceeded 1,100 concepts from more than 450 designers.

While eVTOLs are largely targeting personal transport, Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and cargo sectors, just like helicopters, Hydrogen propulsion technologies, hydrogen combustion and hydrogen fuel cells are seen as the panacea for sustainable commercial transport well into the future. Airbus had launched its ZEROe project in 2020 to explore the feasibility of two primary hydrogen propulsion technologies. Media reports earlier this year, however, indicated that slower than planned progress on the development of the various aspects related to hydrogen propulsion for commercial aviation had resulted in Airbus slowing its ambition to bring a hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft to market. Airbus had announced this year that it had selected hydrogen fuel cell technology as the propulsion method for this future aircraft. “The results of the fuel cell prototype and powertrain testing, as well as research into complementary technology such as cryogenics, supported the viability of this technology,” the airframer stated. Airbus’ Hydrogen fuel cells create electrical energy, which is then used to power electric motors that turn a propeller or fan.