EY on sustainable solutions for net zero 2050
The aerospace industry faces a daunting challenge if it’s to meet net zero emissions by 2050. As many companies work on one solution or another, it’s a combination of multiple—sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), hydroelectricity, digitalisation, and a growing and diverse work force, to name a few—that will get the industry where it needs to be in the next 25 years.
SAF has long been touted as a solution, and for obvious reasons as aircraft emit significant emissions by burning fossil fuels. However, SAF poses its own barriers, like availability, constraints on storage, price and profitability. Increased production will lower the cost, but lower prices will encourage investment, leading to a case of which came first—the horse or the cart? “I think the horse and the cart will chase after each other, if I may say so,” chuckled Stephane Lagut, EY Global Aerospace and Defense Leader. Regardless, SAF will still cost two to three times more than other fuels at the start, requiring government mandates, incentives, and investments to push demand.
Electricity and hydrogen are other solutions for sustainable aviation, although the former poses difficulties with battery weight, charge capacity, and safety. Electrification throughout the aircraft, not just for propulsion, could still make a difference, said Lagut. Hydrogen can be used for propulsion or for fuel itself, and combining the two into hybrid electricity opens a door to varied applications.
Digitilisation of commercial flight is a third solution, shared Lagut. Actions like improving air traffic control and digitising production and maintenance can make activities across the industry more efficient.
Aviation faces a workforce shortage, but this can be avoided by increasing access to and quality of STEM training, diversifying and introducing more talent to the industry. “Going back on the digital aspect of things,” Lagut added, “there are different ways of working for the workforce, improving the efficiency of the workforce, using different tools and techniques to prompt faster and more efficient innovation.”
