- DatesDecember 2021-July 2022
- SponsorHigher Education Innovation Fund
- Funded£39,000
The development of zero-emission aircraft as well as supporting systems and key infrastructure is one of the key pillars of the UK Government’s ‘Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution’. This aspiration has been an underlying motivation for several funding programmes, including the Future Flight Challenge and Zero Emission Flight Infrastructure. While much of the recent research and policy focus has been on the role of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs), the growth of SAFs has possible implications on land use and food security. It is in this regard that there is an increasing interest from the technology developers and Government to realise zero-carbon emission flight by utilising low-carbon electricity and hydrogen. Yet, the challenges of retrofitting and redesigning airport infrastructure systems and the implication of these new energy demands on energy networks are key research gaps.
The aim of the TRILEMA workshops is to create a shared understanding of challenges and opportunities for the development of low-carbon airport infrastructure between energy and aviation sectors.
In two workshops running consecutively, the aims of this event are as follows:
- Synthesise existing knowledge on zero-carbon emission aircraft technology development and regulation and certification management
- Generate a shared understanding of low carbon airport infrastructure development opportunities and challenges between energy and aviation sectors
- Identify key research questions and a roadmap of activities for industry, policy and academia
Our workshops included academic presentations, panel discussions and plenary debate.
Progress update
We held two workshops, focusing on hydrogen (26 May) and battery (8 June) technologies and systems. You can access copies of the academic presentations below.
Hydrogen event presentations (26 May 2022)
- Introduction of the hydrogen event – Dr Nazmiye Ozkan
- H2 generation technology– Dr Peter Clough
- Low NOx Hydrogen Combustion – Dr Bobby Sethi
- Fuel cell applications – Jenny Kavanagh & Rob Marsh, Cranfield Aerospace Solutions Ltd
- Holistic assessment of H2 demands – Prof Pericles Pilidis
- H2 safety – Dr Paul Holborn
- H2 safety and training for airport fire and rescue – Dr Tom Budd
Battery event presentations (8 June 2022)
- Introduction of the battery event – Dr Nazmiye Ozkan
- Electric taxiing and electric machine technologies for aerospace – Prof Patrick Luk
- Electric flight – Dr Guy Gratton
- EV fleet charging and management - Dr Chao Long
