Wu Guanghui, academician of China Academy of Engineering: Civil aviation is of great significance to achieving global carbon emission reduction

"Civil aviation is of great significance to achieving global carbon emissions reduction." Recently, at the Second Aviation Conference of China Aviation Association, Wu Guanghui, academician of China Academy of Engineering, chief scientist of Comac of China, and chief designer of the C919 large passenger aircraft series, said in a report on the green and low-carbon development of the civil aviation industry.

Wu Guanghui, academician of China Academy of Engineering, delivered a speech on the spot.

"Unlike cars and high-speed rail, turbine power is still the best power choice for aircraft in terms of current technology, but it also makes the global civil aviation carbon emission reduction situation severe." Wu Guanghui said that the aviation industry's contribution to global GDP is approximately US$3.5 trillion, accounting for 4.1%, and its carbon dioxide emissions account for 3% of the total global carbon dioxide emissions. However, with the decarbonization of other industries, the aviation industry's carbon dioxide emissions may reach 22% in 2050.

"Currently, many countries and organizations have put forward plans and requirements for civil aviation to achieve green and low-carbon development." Wu Guanghui said that in 2017, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) proposed the latest international standard on aircraft carbon dioxide emissions, requiring that carbon emissions be reduced by about 8% from 2020 to 2026, and formulated in terms of technology and management by 2035. Roadmaps, standards and implementation methods to achieve carbon emission reduction.

In 2020, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) released the "Aircraft Technology Roadmap 2050" proposing that by 2050, global aviation net carbon emissions will be reduced by 50% compared with 2005; carbon emissions will be reduced in terms of technology (including more energy-efficient aircraft and sustainable alternative fuels, etc.), efficient flight operations, improved airspace and airport infrastructure, and proactive economic measures.

In February 2021, the "Aviation Net Zero Emissions 2050 Roadmap" released by Europe proposed that by 2050, emissions will be reduced by 37% through aircraft and engine technology improvements, and emissions will be reduced by 34% through the use of sustainable fuels, and air traffic control and operation efficiency will be improved. Reduce emissions by 6%, and airlines will also be charged a carbon tax to further stimulate emission reductions.

In March 2023, the "National Aviation Science and Technology Priorities" issued by the Office of Science and Technology Policy of the President of the United States proposed that first, we must continue to maintain the United States 'aviation hegemony, and second, reduce the challenges of the impact of climate changes, including the development of sustainable fuels, new aircraft technology, airport emission reduction, efficient operation of air traffic control, etc., and the third is to redelineate the U.S. airspace management system, including the development of eVTOL low-altitude economy.

"Our country's" Green Aviation Manufacturing Development Outline "released in October 2023 (2023-2035)"proposes to build 'four major systems', namely, green technology innovation system, green aviation industry system, green demonstration application system, and safe and effective service guarantee system, and implement' three key projects ', namely green aviation technology Innovation project, green aviation innovation application pilot demonstration project, green aviation standards and airworthiness compliance verification system construction project." Wu Guanghui said that by 2025, my country will achieve demonstration applications of domestic civil aircraft with sustainable aviation fuels, put electric navigation aircraft into commercial applications, complete feasibility verification of key technologies for hydrogen energy aircraft, and achieve electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) Pilot operation, etc.; By 2035, a green aviation manufacturing system with integrity, advancement and safety will be built to promote new energy aircraft to become the mainstream of development. The safety, environmental protection, economy and comfort of domestic civil large aircraft will reach world-class levels. At the same time, new general aviation equipment with unmanned, motorized and intelligent technical characteristics will be commercialized and applied on a large scale.

"We propose the future development direction of green civil aircraft from the aspects of energy conservation and emission reduction, noise reduction cycles and health, including integrating emission reduction technologies into aircraft design (including wing-body fusion bodies, laminar flow technology, etc.), strengthening sustainable biological fuel (SAF) application, promoting hybrid propulsion technology, laying out and developing hydrogen energy power technology, developing energy applications such as controllable nuclear fusion (small nuclear reactor), methanol, ammonia and magnesium hydrogen storage, and enriching the market and economic application." Wu Guanghui said that for achieving the aviation net zero emissions goal, SAF, electricity and hydrogen energy are feasible ways to deal with climate change and achieve carbon emission reduction in the aviation sector. They are also the current trend choice in the global aviation industry.

Wu Guanghui said that there are also many measures on the ground that can promote emission reduction, including aircraft taxiing planning, building ecological airports, and using four-dimensional track operation to improve door-to-door operation efficiency. In addition, from the perspective of circular economy, we will build a green and low-carbon development of civil aircraft throughout the life cycle, including green manufacturing, green recycling, green maintenance and aviation industry chains.

"my country's aviation industry has broad prospects, opportunities and challenges coexist. In the next two decades, the world may deliver more than 40,000 new aircraft, and my country will reach more than 9000. Our country's aviation market will undoubtedly be the single largest global aviation market." Wu Guanghui said that there will be greater development in large aircraft and low-altitude economies, including the deep integration of agriculture, forestry, public security, tourism, electricity, ambulance, sports, etc. with aviation.