Title
Prospective life cycle inventory datasets for conventional and hybrid-electric aircraft technologies
Author
Thonemann, Nils (Technical University of Denmark)
Saavedra-Rubio, Karen (Technical University of Denmark)
Pierrat, Eleonore (Technical University of Denmark)
Dudka, Katarzyna (Technical University of Denmark)
Bangoura, Mathilde (MAHYTEC)
Baumann, Nils (Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH)
Bentheimer, Christian (Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg)
Caliandro, Priscilla (Bern University of Applied Sciences)
De Breuker, R. (TU Delft Group De Breuker) 
Date
2024
Abstract
Hybrid-electric aircraft represent a promising solution for the urgent need to decarbonize short-haul flights and bolster aviation sustainability. Nevertheless, the realization of hybrid-electric aircraft demands rigorous environmental impact analysis, given the substantial investments, time, and research required for technology development. This study offers a comprehensive life cycle inventory spanning the years 2030, 2040, and 2050 for both conventional and hybrid-electric aircraft configurations. Our inventory datasets are meticulously constructed through a systematic approach, ensuring data harmonization by drawing upon scientific literature, industry expertise, and primary data sources. This extensive dataset encompasses all pertinent systems necessary to model the environmental footprint of flights covering distances ranging from 200 to 600 nautical miles, utilizing a 50-passenger aircraft with the ATR42 as a reference model. Additionally, we furnish supplemental data for end-of-life considerations and uncertainty analysis. The systems under examination include the airframe, powertrain, power electronics and drives, batteries, fuel cells, hydrogen onboard storage, airport infrastructure, and battery charging stations. Notably, the carbon footprint of conventional aircraft aligns with data from the ecoinvent v3.8 database; however, our provided datasets are more than tenfold more detailed and incorporate a forward-looking perspective. These meticulously curated life cycle inventories can be amalgamated to simulate the potential environmental ramifications of conventional aircraft powered by kerosene or alternative aviation fuels, hybrid-electric aircraft utilizing battery technology, and hybrid-electric aircraft employing hydrogen as a fuel in conjunction with batteries. In this context, our findings play a pivotal role in nurturing the development of technology roadmaps that prioritize environmental sustainability within the realm of regional aviation.
Subject
Aviation
Data collection
Environmental sustainability
Industrial ecology
LCA
Prospective life cycle assessment
Transport
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:60d5092f-1ce7-46ab-8d7c-3825679317da
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.140314
ISSN
0959-6526
Source
Journal of Cleaner Production, 434
Part of collection
Institutional Repository
Document type
journal article
Rights
© 2024 Nils Thonemann, Karen Saavedra-Rubio, Eleonore Pierrat, Katarzyna Dudka, Mathilde Bangoura, Nils Baumann, Christian Bentheimer, Priscilla Caliandro, R. De Breuker, More Authors