Braunschweig researchers start revolutionary era of sustainable aviation!

Braunschweig researchers start revolutionary era of sustainable aviation!

A lot is happening in the field of aviation technology in Braunschweig. Under the leadership of Professor Jens Friedrichs, Head of the Institute for Aircraft Propulsion and Turbomachinery at the TU Braunschweig, intensive research is being carried out to develop sustainable solutions. As part of the Cluster of Excellence “Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Aviation” (SE²A), unique test benches and interdisciplinary research approaches are being developed here in Europe that are aimed at making aviation more climate-friendly. According to TU Braunschweig, the Propulsion Test Facility is one such important test facility that took over a decade to build.

Friedrichs, who still remembers his first flight in the Airbus A380, sees the current developments as a necessary step on the way to more sustainable aviation. When asked about the changes needed in the industry, he explains that in order to reduce emissions, longer flight times and more climate-friendly routes are also realistic. He emphasizes that “flying will continue to be necessary in the future,” but the industry must continue to develop in order to ensure ecological sense while maintaining affordable prices.

Innovations and challenges

There are big changes coming in the aviation industry, and not just in Braunschweig. The company Heart Aerospace also has big plans: set new standards with the X1, the largest electric aircraft in the world. According to Roland Berger, the test flights will begin at the end of this year, with the market entry of the ES-30, which can carry 30 passengers, in 2028. Despite this progress, the development of the ES-30 is expected to bring about a moderate reduction in CO₂ emissions, which is what It shows that the industry still has a long way to go.

Aviation is currently a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, and while modern design can reduce fuel consumption by up to 30%, the overall need for current technologies is significant. The International Council on Clean Transportation estimates that around $5 trillion will be needed by 2050 to get the industry to net-zero emissions. Around 2.5% of global CO₂ emissions currently come from aviation - alarming figures for an industry that causes high emissions per capita.

European cooperation for clean aviation

The efforts to achieve climate-friendly aviation do not stop at Europe. The Clean Sky 2 Technology Evaluator examines the potential of new aircraft technologies to reduce CO₂ and noise. The DLR has found that significant progress can be made by halving emissions growth through fleet renewals. The results of the evaluation will be incorporated into the successor Clean Aviation program and are intended to strengthen European competitiveness.

Technologies such as hydrogen drives, hybridization and alternative fuels play a crucial role in making aviation future-proof and climate-friendly. Advances in the industry could not only reduce CO₂ emissions by 2050, but also generate up to 40% more value in the European aviation industry. This shows how important European cooperation in research is.

In summary, the aviation industry has major challenges to overcome, but also offers great opportunities. As the industry experiments with innovations and technological advancements, the hope for a greener future in aviation operations remains a key goal for researchers and companies alike.