How do we work on making aviation sustainable?

We have to fly less. And make flying climate-neutral.

Climate change is our reality. And while aviation contributes a lot to the well-being and prosperity of people around the world, it contributes to this climate change. Flying as often and as far as we do now is simply no longer sustainable. We all need to make much more conscious choices. Is it really necessary to make this trip? What is the most environmentally friendly mode of transport for the journey?

At the same time, the real expectation is that not fewer, but many more people worldwide will fly. This is because more and more people worldwide are affluent enough to travel. For that reason, we should be fully committed to making aviation as climate-neutral as possible.

At TU Delft, we are convinced that with knowledge, technology, innovation and a new generation of aviation engineers, we can make a major contribution to climate-neutral aviation in 2050 or earlier. To develop the right innovations and also get them introduced quickly, we cooperate with other knowledge institutes and with companies from the aviation sector and the manufacturing industry, among others. In this way, we contribute to ensuring that aviation can continue to connect the world for future generations.

Henri Werij
Dean Faculty of Aerospace Engineering TU Delft

Read Werij’s inaugural speech ‘Let’s start the clear sky revolution’.

How do we work on making aviation sustainable?

Reduce energy consumption

We make aircraft and aircraft engines as efficient as possible. Our Flying-V aircraft design for example aims at saving 20% on fuel consumption just as a result of improved aerodynamics and reduced weight. The SmartX is an energy efficient aircraft wing. It mimics the steering and wing movements of birds making it possible to reduce the weight of aircraft. Another example is the Delft Laminar Hump. This innovation changes the wing’s surface in such a way that the airflow over it remains laminar (not turbulent) for longer, thereby reducing the aerodynamic drag of the aircraft. But lightweight aircraft materials and new systems for Air Traffic Management, such as a Single European Sky, so that aircraft can always fly the shortest distance possible, will also save energy.

Sustainable energy

We want aviation to run completely on a mix of sustainable energy and propulsion technologies. We for example work on electric and electric/hybrid aircraft. But also on the sustainable production of green aviation fuels, such as synthetic kerosene, LNG and hydrogen. By re-using CO2 for the production of green fuels, we make aviation CO2 neutral. All options need to be on the table. Sustainable fuels are better suited for long-haul flights and electric aircraft for shorter routes.

Sustainable aviation operations

This covers topics ranging from sustainable airports in healthy environments – including clean ground operations, such as electric taxiing - to sustainability-focused Air Traffic Management systems and fleet management (we can fly more on electric aircraft if they make more stops on the way to recharge). In addition, we also study the effect of new aircraft and fuels on the earth’s atmosphere. By doing so we can optimise route and cruise altitude to minimise climate effects, and to greatly reduce air and noise pollution.

Minimising the environmental impact of materials and structures

We work on minimising the impact of aircraft and spacecraft materials and structures on our planet. To this end, we follow different approaches including design for life cycle, development of bio-based and bio-degradable aerospace-grade materials, development of energy- and resource-efficient manufacturing technologies, and of reuse and recycling methods, thereby making the circular aerospace industry of the future a reality. This topic also includes sustainable aircraft maintenance. Condition-based maintenance, for example, where the aircraft’s health is constantly monitored through sensors and Artificial Intelligence, allows airlines to replace components when they’re truly at the end of their lifetime, rather than during preventive inspections, which reduces waste.

Sustainable Aviation Projects

Flying-V - Flying long distances energy-efficiently

SmartX - The energy efficient aircraft wing

Collaborations

We joined forces with many parties to make a significant contribution to climate neutral aviation. Here’s an overview of some of our main collaborations.

Luchtvaart in Transitie

Clean Aviation

SUSTAINair

QAIMS Lab

Alliance for Zero Emission Aviation (AZEA)

APPU

Flying Vision

BAANG

Downloads

Faster to carbon-free aviation

Towards sustainable air transport system

Fact sheet sustainable alternatives to kerosene

Soaring Towards a Greener Future: The Path to Sustainable Aviation

You can build a fantastic, sustainable airplane. But if there’s no airfield where it can re-fuel, because it’s hydrogen powered, and if it can’t land, then it won’t be used. You’ve just created a museum piece. The entire system must be addressed. And there is urgency: improving efficiency is much-needed in the European aviation industry, which has to become C02-neutral by 2050.

What does it take to achieve sustainable aviation? How to accelerate innovation? And what can we do for existing aircraft? In this Pioneering Tech video, Rinze Benedictus (Professor Aerospace Materials & Structural Integrity) and Marios Kotsonis (Professor Flow Control) provide the answers.