Report presents roadmap for decarbonizing aerospace

Various technologies are being developed to tackle the issue of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from aircraft. Two promising solutions for short-term emissions reduction may be electric propulsion and the development of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), according to a recently published Deloitte Insights report titled “Decarbonizing aerospace: A roadmap for the industry’s lower-emissions future.”

The October 2021 report projects that without intervention, CO₂ emissions from passenger aircraft will grow 2.5 times between now and 2050, based on growth estimates from Boeing and the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Deloitte reports that 18% of an aircraft’s carbon footprint is attributed to direct emissions from aerospace part manufacture; 12% is attributed to indirect manufacturing and operations emissions such as electricity within facilities; and 70% is from emissions generated by aircraft during operation. Regarding the latter, the report notes: “While [aerospace manufacturing] companies have less control over these emissions, addressing them can be critical for lowering aviation emissions.”

Five key elements Deloitte reports may be key to help reduce aircraft emissions are:

• Innovative aircraft design using advanced materials and technologies to make more fuel-efficient aircraft.
• New propulsion technologies, such as electric or hydrogen propulsion to achieve zero-emission aviation.
• SAF as an alternative to fossil fuels.
• Building and managing supporting infrastructure for sustainable technology platforms.
• Efficient air traffic management.

Of these, Deloitte predicts that SAFs and electric propulsion will be primary solutions, together reducing up to 63% or 1,490 million tons of CO₂ emissions through 2050. Short term, Deloitte predicts that SAFs may be the best solution for reducing emissions in medium- to long-haul flights, with electric propulsion being the most feasible for smaller aircraft and short-haul flights.

However, longer term, Deloitte says electric aircraft are likely to be the more sustainable, zero-emissions solutions, especially with the ongoing developments in the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle market. One of the biggest challenges predicted for both electric and hydrogen propulsion, however, is the cost of switching existing infrastructure and aircraft to new propulsion systems. Regulations surrounding eVTOL use are also an obstacle to adoption.

Download the full report here or read more at Deloitte Insights’ website.