Green Innovation for Global Civil Aviation

December 7, 2020

By Lidia Kleshchenko, Associate Program Officer, Global Challenges Division, Global Issues Sector, WIPO, and Anja von der Ropp, Senior Program Coordinator, Climate Change and Food Security (WIPO GREEN), Global Challenges Division, Global Issues Sector, WIPO

In this special feature, WIPO GREEN discussed sustainability trends in global aviation with two experts in aviation and green technology, Ms. Jane Hupe, Deputy Director for Environment at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and Mr. George Anjaparidze, Chief Executive Officer at Veritas Global.

In 2019, 4.5 billion passengers were carried by the world's airlines, producing 915 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. While the number is high, it constitutes only 2% of all human-induced CO₂ emissions and 12% of emissions from all transport sources. At the same time, the aviation industry possesses significant capacity for expansion and utilization of green innovation to further decrease its carbon footprint.

Today, in the context of the global COVID-19 crisis, many hope that civil aviation will recover as a greener, more sustainable industry. WIPO GREEN spoke with Ms. Jane Hupe, Deputy Director for Environment at the ICAO, about the opportunities for such recovery and the green technology trends in the industry.

What are the global trends in civil aviation and green technology?

Aviation by nature is an innovative industry; for example, aircrafts produced today are about 80 per cent more fuel efficient than in the 1960s. Looking into the future, green technologies in aviation are being pursued at a faster pace than ever before, even with the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Various types of sustainable aviation fuels are now available for use in aircraft, and further CO₂ reductions are being pursued via new aircraft technologies and operational procedures.

Green tech press releases in aviation

Search for press releases on aviation-related green technologies through the platform managed by the Air Transport Action Group, a coalition of aviation industry experts focusing on sustainable development issues.

In the mid-to-long term, many initiatives are looking into game-changing technologies including electric, hybrid and hydrogen-powered aircraft. The ICAO has been tracking these innovation developments under the ICAO Stocktaking Process, which has collected more than 100 existing and foreseen initiatives from aviation stakeholders. This information is being considered by the ICAO in the assessment of the feasibility of a long term CO₂ goal for international aviation.

Could you share some examples of industry-shaping green technologies that already exist or are being developed?

The ICAO Stocktaking 2020 Seminar (recordings available online: ICAO Stocktaking Seminar on aviation in-sector CO₂ emissions reductions) showcased many of these green technologies, ranging from novel aircraft technologies to operational improvements and sustainable aviation fuels. An overview of the latest initiatives can be found on the ICAO tracker tool, which is part of the ICAO Global Coalition for Sustainable Aviation. Some examples include:

the Pipistrel Velis Electro, first electric aircraft to obtain a type certification¹ by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency
the Zeroavia flight powered by hydrogen, a zero-emission fuel burned with oxygen
the various vertical take-off and landing (VTOL)² projects emerging, for example: Bell Nexus, E-Hang, Kitty Hawk, Lilium, Uber Elevate, Volocopter etc.
the Otto aviation laminar³ fuselage aircraft Celera 500L, characterized by lower fuel consumption and reduction in operating costs
the Taxibot - semi-robotic hybrid (powered by a combination of electric and diesel engines) vehicle made for towing an aircraft without the use of the aircraft's engines; this allows it to consume 95% less fuel during taxiing than the more commonly used aircraft engines
new processes for Sustainable Aviation Fuels production (IHI Corporation Algae-based fuels, and Applied Research Associates (ARA) Catalytic hydrothermolysis fuels)
several facilities around the world are being built for the production of sustainable aviation fuels

What kinds of green technologies are ready to be used now in the aviation sector? Could you tell us more about the remaining challenges?

Sustainable aviation fuels are a reality and can be used now, however the main challenge is the current price gap with conventional fuels. In that regard, the ICAO is encouraging governments to promote policies that strive to establish a level playing field between aviation and other transportation sectors on the use of sustainable fuels.

Featured Technology from the WIPO GREEN database

Electrochemical Process for Conversion of Biodiesel to Aviation Fuels
Northeastern University

Conventional biodiesels are not suitable for use as aviation fuels due to solidification at low temperatures as well as low energy density. This novel process enables efficient and effective conversion of biodiesel into aviation fuel, overcoming most prior-art limitations, and providing a solution for low-cost production of sustainable aviation fuels.

For electric aircraft, the main challenge is to increase the energy density of batteries, which would allow electric aircraft to be used on longer routes, with higher capacity. Other challenges include the necessary infrastructure to electrify aeroplanes, as well as ensuring that the electricity comes from environmentally-friendly sources. Similar challenges surround the broader adoption of hydrogen-powered aircraft. We must ensure that sustainability is maintained throughout the full lifecycle of the aircraft and its operations.

What are some industry actions that ICAO would encourage?

We definitely welcome further coordination with the aviation industry and the other stakeholders to define what is feasible in terms of CO₂ reductions for international aviation, and the corresponding policies that governments would need to put in place. We welcome industry to join the ICAO Sustainable Aviation Coalition and to submit information on their latest initiatives through the stocktaking questionnaire.

We look forward to seeing the implantation of the groundbreaking innovations, which have proven their feasibility and sustainability for the aviation sector.

How do you see the aviation industry developing in the next decade?

The COVID-19 pandemic has generated significant uncertainties for the aviation sector, including how and when it will recover. Nevertheless, such fundamental turning points as this provide us not only with challenges, but also with opportunities to build back better. To this end, the ICAO organized the Aviation Green Recovery Seminar to highlight ongoing work by the ICAO, Member States and stakeholders towards green recovery. The seminar showcased some concrete measures in place to promote an open, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable future. It is clear that governments’ financial recovery packages are being designed to prioritize greener air services, foster ambitious climate objectives and actions, and support the more rapid decarbonization of international aviation. New aircraft and innovations in engine technology, renewable sources of energy and smarter flight operations, will all help to support the green transition to a “new normal” for the aviation sector. There is no immediate and effective solution to these complex problems; all actions count and global cooperation has never been more crucial.

Expert opinion

Flight path to sustainable air connectivity after the pandemic
By Mr. George Anjaparidze, CEO of Veritas Global

The airline industry has been one of the worst hit sectors by COVID-19 and many have questioned whether the sector will ever recover. It is arguably more important to focus on the ways the sector will recover. Will it become more sustainable, also addressing climate challenges?

Some of the answers to these questions lie in new technology, which will play an important role in determining the sustainability credentials of air connectivity in the future. Air connectivity is the ease with which two or more locations are connected with air transport.

One set of immediate opportunities lies in improving navigation systems, to avoid the requirement for aircraft to zig zag through administrative boundaries in the sky, thus reducing flight lengths and saving fuel. Another set of immediate opportunities come from using technologies that support smooth aircraft descent, which also helps to save fuel.

Improving how technology is used in infrastructure and operations can save the industry tens of billions of dollars and lower the CO₂ emissions trajectory by about 20% by 2030.
Analysis by Veritas Global, a Swiss strategy and economics advisory company

A medium-term technological opportunity comes from the use of sustainable aviation fuels. However, for this opportunity to be realized, there needs to be an immediate scaling-up in investments and incentives for the production of sustainable aviation fuels to help bring down their cost. These fuels have the potential to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of aviation by powering aircraft with carbon sequestered from the atmosphere and environment around us, for example. When manufactured sustainably, these fuels can be produced without creating stress on agricultural lands and exclude the use of food crops. As of December 7, 2020, over 300,000 flights have been operated using sustainable aviation fuels. Although these are impressive figures, sustainable aviation fuels still represent only a fraction of one percent of total fuel used. Up-take is constrained by high costs, which can be multiples above conventional jet fuel.

In the meantime, until sustainable alternative fuels reach sufficient scale or new technologies are created, the industry can also manage its carbon footprint through carbon offsetting. Through demand for carbon offsets, the industry sends a price signal on carbon, which helps drive low-carbon technological innovation in sectors where it is most cost effective to reduce emissions. This helps to reduce total emissions, while meeting the aviation industry’s sustainability goals.

About WIPO GREEN

WIPO GREEN is a global marketplace for sustainable technology, supporting global efforts to address climate change. Through its online database and regional activities, WIPO GREEN connects green tech seekers and providers in order to catalyze green innovation and accelerate green tech transfer and diffusion.