Sustainable Aviation Engineering: Decarbonizing Air Transport Through Hydrogen Propulsion, Electrification, and Advanced Aerodynamic Design
Journal Name: Discover Engineering
Abstract
The aviation industry is one of the fastest-growing contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for a significant share of global CO₂ output. With increasing demand for air travel, decarbonizing air transport has become a critical engineering challenge. Sustainable aviation engineering emphasizes the development of hydrogen propulsion, electrification, and advanced aerodynamic designs as pathways to achieve net-zero aviation. This paper explores the potential of hydrogen fuel cells and combustion systems, electric and hybrid-electric aircraft architectures, and novel aerodynamic configurations—including blended wing bodies and morphing structures—in reducing aviation’s carbon footprint. Technical feasibility, infrastructure requirements, and environmental impacts are analyzed, alongside challenges such as fuel storage, energy density, certification, and scalability. The study concludes that while no single solution will achieve full decarbonization, the integration of these innovations, coupled with supportive policies and global collaboration, can transform aviation into a more sustainable sector.