ENGINES
TECHNOLOGY
Emerging Trends in
Aero Engine Technologies
Since most aviation emissions are at high altitudes where they intensify the warming impact and since aviation emissions are among the fastest growing, the industry is under immense pressure to decarbonise
by Joseph Noronha
T
he heat is on! The recently released World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) “State of the Global Climate in 2021” report confirmed that the past seven years have been the warmest seven years on record. According to the WMO, four key climate change indicators – greenhouse gas concentrations, sea level rise, ocean heat and ocean acidification – all set new records in 2021. It says “this is yet another clear sign that human activities are causing planetary scale changes on land, in the ocean, and in the atmosphere, with harmful and long-lasting ramifications for sustainable development and ecosystems.”
The airline industry is currently not a major source of global greenhouse gases. Overall, it produces just 2.5 per cent of all human-induced carbon emissions. However, since most aviation emissions are at high altitudes where they intensify the warming impact and since aviation emissions are among the fastest growing, the industry is under immense pressure to decarbonise. In October 2021, a resolution was passed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) committing member airlines to achieve ‘Fly Net Zero’ or net-zero carbon emissions from their operations by 2050. There is a difference between ‘carbon neutral’ and ‘net zero’. Carbon neutral implies not increasing carbon emis-
PHOTOGRAPH: Safran Group
The CFM RISE (Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines) programme targets more than 20 per cent lower emissions and will demonstrate a range of new, disruptive technologies like open fan architecture and hybrid electric capability for future engines
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SP’S AIRBUZ • Issue 3 • 2022
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