Sustainable Aviation

Climate neutral aviation? Now boarding!

At TU Delft we are convinced that it is possible to make aviation climate neutral. That’s why we’re working so hard on it. Our drive? We know that climate change is real. And although aviation contributes a great deal to the prosperity and well-being of people all over the world, it also contributes to climate change. If we do not make this sector more sustainable more quickly, this contribution will increase exponentially. Of course: making more conscious choices about when and how we travel is necessary. But: as Delft engineers, we also believe that with our knowledge, technology, innovation and a new generation of aviation engineers, we can make a crucial contribution to climate-neutral aviation in 2050. So 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 revolutionary Flying-V aircraft design for example aims at saving 20% on fuel consumption compared to state-of-the-art long-haul aircraft, like the Airbus A350, just as a result of improved aerodynamics and reduced weight. 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.

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.