Aviation Measures to Improve Energy Efficiency in Air Transport

The German Society for Aeronautics and Astronautics has published the paper "The Energy-Efficient Aircraft of the Future: A Long-Term Perspective." In it, the DGLR outlines targeted measures to improve the energy efficiency of aircraft in air transport.

The goal of significantly reducing the climate impact of aviation and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 presents a major challenge for the aviation industry. To address this, renewable and sustainable energy sources such as sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) or green hydrogen need to be utilized. However, their availability remains limited, and fuel costs are expected to rise significantly during the energy transition. Targeted measures to significantly improve energy efficiency in aviation—both in aircraft operations and design—are therefore essential. Against this backdrop, eleven authors from industry and research discuss various technological perspectives in "The Energy-Efficient Aircraft of the Future: A Long-Term Perspective" through a balanced approach that considers both the potential and challenges associated with significantly improving energy efficiency. Based on their findings, they outline a path to reduce the energy consumption of future aircraft by at least 50 percent. "Up to 50 percent energy savings and thus direct emissions reductions compared to current aircraft models are technically possible, but only if we further develop both the aircraft and its operational concept as a whole," explains Daniel Reckzeh, co-author of the paper, member of the DGLR presidency, and head of the DGLR L2 Manned Aircraft division. "The entire industry is called upon here—from science and industry to politics. Together, we must create the framework conditions to successfully bring these technologies to market, meaning mature and affordable solutions."

Key technologies deployable before 2050

Improved energy efficiency has a direct positive impact on an aircraft's carbon footprint. Because if less energy is needed to operate an aircraft, less fuel is consumed. Some key technologies can be integrated into future classes of large transport aircraft well before 2050. These include:

• the reduction of aerodynamic drag,
• the reduction of weight through the consistent use of carbon fiber composites (CFRP) in aircraft structures,
• the synergistic integration of new propulsion technologies as well as
• the active control of the aircraft.

This makes it possible, for example, to actively minimize gust loads, maneuver loads, and even flutter control, thereby significantly reducing aircraft weight and enabling wings with extremely high aspect ratios. Possible challenges in future aircraft configurations for an economically and environmentally competitive aircraft, as well as challenges regarding integration into the overall aviation system, are also considered. (se)

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