EAI presents Cleantech Snapshots: a quick summary of some of the most interesting and innovative areas in clean technology that will drive the sustainability movement in future.
This snapshot focuses on Green aviation. Within this page you will find
- An overview of Green aviation
- Critical areas in greenaviation
- Innovations
- Drawbacks
- Green aviation Case studies
Overview
- Aviation aims at creating environmental awareness, inventing innovative ways to reduce air pollution, reduce the noise from airplanes, and burn fuel more efficiently
- Aviation sector contributes to about 5% of the total greenhouse gases
- Worldwide, there are significant efforts by this sector to cut down emissions through use of biofuels, efficient aircraft design, and optimised navigation
- In addition, many airlines have started using more sustainable materials and adopted key waste management methods
- Apart from these it also touches on air traffic management, which focuses on enabling aircraft to move more efficiently, eventually reducing noise, emissions, and fuel burn
- So this holds a promise where people will be able to enjoy the convenience and benefits of living near an airport
Green Aviation Market upto 2020(Image source)
Critical areas ingreen aviation
The main area of concern is to reduce:
- Aircraft fuel consumption
- Noise rate
Innovations
- Changes in the way airliners transit through the na¬tion’s air traffic control system
- Changes in aircraft design, such as the use of lightweight composite structures and means to increase laminar, or smooth, air flow over aircraft surfaces, can increase over¬all lift and reduce drag
- Changes in engine design or operation might include ultra-high bypass turbofans, open rotor engines, use of alternative fuels, or locating engines on the body of the aircraft
Drawbacks
- Demands of aviation industry cannot be satisfied
- Feedstock availability (for alternative fuels)
