Lee Evans, aerospace, defence, marine & offshore industry director Euronorth, Dassault Systèmes reveals how the UK's aviation industry can enhance its efforts in achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

As the world hurtles towards the looming deadline of having to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, businesses in every sector globally are facing mounting pressure to use energy responsibly and use renewable energy sources where possible. As different sectors scramble to adjust and improve plans to meet these goals, it’s no surprise to see that all eyes are on the aviation industry.

With the aviation industry expected to double to over eight billion passengers by 2050, decarbonisation has become a top priority in the industry’s efforts to combat climate change. Over the years, manufacturers in the sector have ramped up efforts to reduce emissions and decarbonise, while staying profitable amidst significant time and technological development challenges.

It is precisely because of these efforts from the industry that I remain optimistic about the future. There are some really promising developments on the horizon, such as significant strides forward in the realms of sustainable aviation fuel, and in particular I’m excited about the impact that hydrogen is going to have on the industry for mid-range flights.

Why sustainability has to be an industry priority:

When looking at the net zero picture as a whole, the long term impacts of rising emissions need to be recognised sooner rather than later. While the UK's aviation industry has made some positive strides, more needs to be done if these net zero ambitions are to become a reality.

In 2021 aviation accounted for over 2% of global energy-related CO₂ emissions, having grown faster in recent decades than road, rail or shipping. Although new aircraft are up to 20% more efficient than previous models, this has not been enough to keep up with the growing demand and activity, meaning that fuel efficiency improvements are far below what they need to be in order to reach the net zero goal by 2050.

Upskilling the workforce and integrating technology is essential for the future:

The industry in the UK has been hamstrung by a significant skills shortage and it’s vital that we address this if we are to become a global leader in the sustainable aviation space. Recognising this, we recently partnered with Cranfield University to launch the first ever 3DEXPERIENCE Edu Centre of Excellence in UK, which will see the next generation of talent trained on some of the most exciting virtual twin technology.

This is hugely significant because virtual twin technology provides the genuine capabilities to help the industry achieve these transformational objectives. Starting at a basic level, this innovation allows manufacturers to design, test and simulate every stage of the design and build process in a virtual environment with unparalleled accuracy. These early virtual iterations can inform everything from infrastructure, material selection, part procurement, physical test program, in service operation and so much more; significantly reducing the carbon footprint of any project from the outset.

Not only does it reduce the carbon footprint, but time and cost too, and that means more time and effort to develop bolder sustainable innovations. It’s also important to state that virtual twins go beyond the concept of digital twins. Digital twins are simply a digital form of an object, its virtual version. However, virtual twins provide the ability to 3D model and simulate your product in real life scenarios to drive a real life result.

Technologies such as virtual twins can help manage knowledge and coordinate learnings from complex engineering methods across sectors by storing information in one place, accessible to all those who need it.

Using virtual twin technology, low carbon flights can become a reality. Aviation companies can create live virtual replicas of hydrogen fuel, sustainable aviation fuel (SAFs) and electric aircraft technologies for propulsive and non-propulsive energy systems. They can plan and test them at any point in the supply chain – all before real-life application. In doing so, they effectively deliver better fuels, better planes and a more robust value network.

Moving towards new energy sources:

With decarbonisation at the top of every corporate agenda, especially in the aerospace industry, technology alone will not be enough to get to net zero by 2050. There are many possible technological levers that can be used such as SAFs, hydrogen fuel and electrical aviation. However, businesses must be supported by robust supply chains that allow them to build the right ecosystem around the use of these various levers.

With the various regulations and supply chain issues across the industry, there is still significant progress to be made. However, when looking at the picture holistically, the industry is on the right path in achieving net zero by 2050. Yes, the aviation sector still has to navigate significant roadblocks in the form of supply chain issues and regulatory change, but with the latest innovations - such as virtual twin technology - I expect new aviation technologies will grow to play a significant role in making the long-term dream of low-carbon flights a reality.

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