Are there any 100% renewable energy aircraft in development?
Clash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP
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There seem to be several options for aircraft R&D regarding cleaner fuels for the time when fossil fuels are no longer economically viable.
Some of these include:
Algae. A drop-in fuel. These fuels are being used and developed in co-operation with the USAF. They have had several successful test flights.
Batteries. Doesn't seem viable at this stage.
Nuclear reactor on board. Doesn't sound safe.
Hydrogen. This wiki page says they could be built by 2020. That's only a year away now...
I've found a few examples of test prototypes & flights using fuel mixtures that improve emissions and gasoline consumption, but are there any commercial aircraft in development, with an expected launch date that utilize 100% renewable energy?
fuel fuel-systems
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
There seem to be several options for aircraft R&D regarding cleaner fuels for the time when fossil fuels are no longer economically viable.
Some of these include:
Algae. A drop-in fuel. These fuels are being used and developed in co-operation with the USAF. They have had several successful test flights.
Batteries. Doesn't seem viable at this stage.
Nuclear reactor on board. Doesn't sound safe.
Hydrogen. This wiki page says they could be built by 2020. That's only a year away now...
I've found a few examples of test prototypes & flights using fuel mixtures that improve emissions and gasoline consumption, but are there any commercial aircraft in development, with an expected launch date that utilize 100% renewable energy?
fuel fuel-systems
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
There seem to be several options for aircraft R&D regarding cleaner fuels for the time when fossil fuels are no longer economically viable.
Some of these include:
Algae. A drop-in fuel. These fuels are being used and developed in co-operation with the USAF. They have had several successful test flights.
Batteries. Doesn't seem viable at this stage.
Nuclear reactor on board. Doesn't sound safe.
Hydrogen. This wiki page says they could be built by 2020. That's only a year away now...
I've found a few examples of test prototypes & flights using fuel mixtures that improve emissions and gasoline consumption, but are there any commercial aircraft in development, with an expected launch date that utilize 100% renewable energy?
fuel fuel-systems
There seem to be several options for aircraft R&D regarding cleaner fuels for the time when fossil fuels are no longer economically viable.
Some of these include:
Algae. A drop-in fuel. These fuels are being used and developed in co-operation with the USAF. They have had several successful test flights.
Batteries. Doesn't seem viable at this stage.
Nuclear reactor on board. Doesn't sound safe.
Hydrogen. This wiki page says they could be built by 2020. That's only a year away now...
I've found a few examples of test prototypes & flights using fuel mixtures that improve emissions and gasoline consumption, but are there any commercial aircraft in development, with an expected launch date that utilize 100% renewable energy?
fuel fuel-systems
fuel fuel-systems
asked 1 hour ago
Cloud
2,35111340
2,35111340
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
up vote
2
down vote
Contrary to one clause of your question, there are a number of battery-electric light aircraft (or what the USA calls "light sport" class) in development, with prototypes flying. This includes both fixed-wing conventional types with single or multiple electric powered propellers, and "drone" style craft using what amounts to thrust hover with electric powered propellers. Flight time is limited, but better with the fixed wing types -- enough so that I'd call an electric motor glider a very feasible design.
Hydrogen has limited usefulness, for the same reasons it doesn't work well for cars: it's technologically difficult to store enough for reasonable range. Either extreme pressure, extreme cold, or a chemical storage method that limits the rate at which you can draw fuel are reqired.
A submarine type nuclear reactor was operated aboard a modified B36 in the 1950s -- the project, intended to lead to a strategic bomber with a flight time of weeks or months, was dropped due to lack of need as well as cost and safety concerns (most of the safety concerns, such as "roll-up" explosions, were later resolved or found to be overblown). This kind of power isn't "fully renewable" anyway -- fission fuel must be mined, it isn't grown.
Algae fuels, as drop-in replacements for kerosene, may have some usefulness, but there are storage issues (hard to stockpile something that can mold or rot) -- as you note, however, testing is in progress, and we'll know in a few years.
1
Plus, the world is awash in oil for the next century or two.
– John K
32 mins ago
@JohnK Yes and no. There will be a point (some sources say in the next 20 years) where the cost of mining oil is higher than any reasonable selling price. Disregarding that, emission legislation will prevent burning of fossil fuels way before we 'run out'. Most European countries are banning the sale of fossil fuels cars by 2040, with some, such as Norway implementing this as soon as 2020! Aviation will surely be next...
– Cloud
13 mins ago
@Cloud There's more untapped fuel in the ground than we have mined in human history. For example, the United States has a policy in place that generally (though not always), we don't harvest our own fuel, as in the event of world war or collapse of the oil industry, we can mine our own for another hundred plus years. It's incredibly easy to swap cars to renewable energy compared to aircraft. The energy expenditure to fly is many multiples of the energy expenditure to roll across the ground. I can tell you that the aerospace industry has no plans to do a "full switch" anytime soon.
– Matt
3 mins ago
@Matt Well if the government impose it, the aerospace industry won't have a choice.
– Cloud
33 secs ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Yes, there are projects to power the jet engines by oil from plants: canola (rapeseed), coconuts and soybeans. This fuel is also cleaner (less sulfur) and even freezing point (-47 degrees C) is acceptable.
While not an immediate certified replacement, these oils can work as jet fuel without radically re-designing the engine. Some refining technology and suitable engines are under development.
Planes with piston diesel engines could also probably run on this fuel.
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
Batteries are indeed more feasible then you give them credit for. For short hop flights they are actually within reason:
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/10/scotlands-orkney-islands-may-see-electric-plane-service-by-2021/
...the added benefit of electrifying the Orkney Islands flights is that there's an abundance of renewable energy, especially wind energy, already on the grid in the area.
Though replacing the jet fuel burned by small island-hopping planes in a remote part of the world may seem like a drop in the bucket in efforts to reduce emissions, starting small is often a path to thinking big. If the shortest flights in the world can be flown successfully, gradually longer and longer commercial electric flights may someday be attempted.
New contributor
zymhan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
You might also add a BBC article on Norway - bbc.com/future/story/…
– Jon Custer
1 min ago
add a comment |Â
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
2
down vote
Contrary to one clause of your question, there are a number of battery-electric light aircraft (or what the USA calls "light sport" class) in development, with prototypes flying. This includes both fixed-wing conventional types with single or multiple electric powered propellers, and "drone" style craft using what amounts to thrust hover with electric powered propellers. Flight time is limited, but better with the fixed wing types -- enough so that I'd call an electric motor glider a very feasible design.
Hydrogen has limited usefulness, for the same reasons it doesn't work well for cars: it's technologically difficult to store enough for reasonable range. Either extreme pressure, extreme cold, or a chemical storage method that limits the rate at which you can draw fuel are reqired.
A submarine type nuclear reactor was operated aboard a modified B36 in the 1950s -- the project, intended to lead to a strategic bomber with a flight time of weeks or months, was dropped due to lack of need as well as cost and safety concerns (most of the safety concerns, such as "roll-up" explosions, were later resolved or found to be overblown). This kind of power isn't "fully renewable" anyway -- fission fuel must be mined, it isn't grown.
Algae fuels, as drop-in replacements for kerosene, may have some usefulness, but there are storage issues (hard to stockpile something that can mold or rot) -- as you note, however, testing is in progress, and we'll know in a few years.
1
Plus, the world is awash in oil for the next century or two.
– John K
32 mins ago
@JohnK Yes and no. There will be a point (some sources say in the next 20 years) where the cost of mining oil is higher than any reasonable selling price. Disregarding that, emission legislation will prevent burning of fossil fuels way before we 'run out'. Most European countries are banning the sale of fossil fuels cars by 2040, with some, such as Norway implementing this as soon as 2020! Aviation will surely be next...
– Cloud
13 mins ago
@Cloud There's more untapped fuel in the ground than we have mined in human history. For example, the United States has a policy in place that generally (though not always), we don't harvest our own fuel, as in the event of world war or collapse of the oil industry, we can mine our own for another hundred plus years. It's incredibly easy to swap cars to renewable energy compared to aircraft. The energy expenditure to fly is many multiples of the energy expenditure to roll across the ground. I can tell you that the aerospace industry has no plans to do a "full switch" anytime soon.
– Matt
3 mins ago
@Matt Well if the government impose it, the aerospace industry won't have a choice.
– Cloud
33 secs ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
Contrary to one clause of your question, there are a number of battery-electric light aircraft (or what the USA calls "light sport" class) in development, with prototypes flying. This includes both fixed-wing conventional types with single or multiple electric powered propellers, and "drone" style craft using what amounts to thrust hover with electric powered propellers. Flight time is limited, but better with the fixed wing types -- enough so that I'd call an electric motor glider a very feasible design.
Hydrogen has limited usefulness, for the same reasons it doesn't work well for cars: it's technologically difficult to store enough for reasonable range. Either extreme pressure, extreme cold, or a chemical storage method that limits the rate at which you can draw fuel are reqired.
A submarine type nuclear reactor was operated aboard a modified B36 in the 1950s -- the project, intended to lead to a strategic bomber with a flight time of weeks or months, was dropped due to lack of need as well as cost and safety concerns (most of the safety concerns, such as "roll-up" explosions, were later resolved or found to be overblown). This kind of power isn't "fully renewable" anyway -- fission fuel must be mined, it isn't grown.
Algae fuels, as drop-in replacements for kerosene, may have some usefulness, but there are storage issues (hard to stockpile something that can mold or rot) -- as you note, however, testing is in progress, and we'll know in a few years.
1
Plus, the world is awash in oil for the next century or two.
– John K
32 mins ago
@JohnK Yes and no. There will be a point (some sources say in the next 20 years) where the cost of mining oil is higher than any reasonable selling price. Disregarding that, emission legislation will prevent burning of fossil fuels way before we 'run out'. Most European countries are banning the sale of fossil fuels cars by 2040, with some, such as Norway implementing this as soon as 2020! Aviation will surely be next...
– Cloud
13 mins ago
@Cloud There's more untapped fuel in the ground than we have mined in human history. For example, the United States has a policy in place that generally (though not always), we don't harvest our own fuel, as in the event of world war or collapse of the oil industry, we can mine our own for another hundred plus years. It's incredibly easy to swap cars to renewable energy compared to aircraft. The energy expenditure to fly is many multiples of the energy expenditure to roll across the ground. I can tell you that the aerospace industry has no plans to do a "full switch" anytime soon.
– Matt
3 mins ago
@Matt Well if the government impose it, the aerospace industry won't have a choice.
– Cloud
33 secs ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
Contrary to one clause of your question, there are a number of battery-electric light aircraft (or what the USA calls "light sport" class) in development, with prototypes flying. This includes both fixed-wing conventional types with single or multiple electric powered propellers, and "drone" style craft using what amounts to thrust hover with electric powered propellers. Flight time is limited, but better with the fixed wing types -- enough so that I'd call an electric motor glider a very feasible design.
Hydrogen has limited usefulness, for the same reasons it doesn't work well for cars: it's technologically difficult to store enough for reasonable range. Either extreme pressure, extreme cold, or a chemical storage method that limits the rate at which you can draw fuel are reqired.
A submarine type nuclear reactor was operated aboard a modified B36 in the 1950s -- the project, intended to lead to a strategic bomber with a flight time of weeks or months, was dropped due to lack of need as well as cost and safety concerns (most of the safety concerns, such as "roll-up" explosions, were later resolved or found to be overblown). This kind of power isn't "fully renewable" anyway -- fission fuel must be mined, it isn't grown.
Algae fuels, as drop-in replacements for kerosene, may have some usefulness, but there are storage issues (hard to stockpile something that can mold or rot) -- as you note, however, testing is in progress, and we'll know in a few years.
Contrary to one clause of your question, there are a number of battery-electric light aircraft (or what the USA calls "light sport" class) in development, with prototypes flying. This includes both fixed-wing conventional types with single or multiple electric powered propellers, and "drone" style craft using what amounts to thrust hover with electric powered propellers. Flight time is limited, but better with the fixed wing types -- enough so that I'd call an electric motor glider a very feasible design.
Hydrogen has limited usefulness, for the same reasons it doesn't work well for cars: it's technologically difficult to store enough for reasonable range. Either extreme pressure, extreme cold, or a chemical storage method that limits the rate at which you can draw fuel are reqired.
A submarine type nuclear reactor was operated aboard a modified B36 in the 1950s -- the project, intended to lead to a strategic bomber with a flight time of weeks or months, was dropped due to lack of need as well as cost and safety concerns (most of the safety concerns, such as "roll-up" explosions, were later resolved or found to be overblown). This kind of power isn't "fully renewable" anyway -- fission fuel must be mined, it isn't grown.
Algae fuels, as drop-in replacements for kerosene, may have some usefulness, but there are storage issues (hard to stockpile something that can mold or rot) -- as you note, however, testing is in progress, and we'll know in a few years.
answered 49 mins ago


Zeiss Ikon
2,678315
2,678315
1
Plus, the world is awash in oil for the next century or two.
– John K
32 mins ago
@JohnK Yes and no. There will be a point (some sources say in the next 20 years) where the cost of mining oil is higher than any reasonable selling price. Disregarding that, emission legislation will prevent burning of fossil fuels way before we 'run out'. Most European countries are banning the sale of fossil fuels cars by 2040, with some, such as Norway implementing this as soon as 2020! Aviation will surely be next...
– Cloud
13 mins ago
@Cloud There's more untapped fuel in the ground than we have mined in human history. For example, the United States has a policy in place that generally (though not always), we don't harvest our own fuel, as in the event of world war or collapse of the oil industry, we can mine our own for another hundred plus years. It's incredibly easy to swap cars to renewable energy compared to aircraft. The energy expenditure to fly is many multiples of the energy expenditure to roll across the ground. I can tell you that the aerospace industry has no plans to do a "full switch" anytime soon.
– Matt
3 mins ago
@Matt Well if the government impose it, the aerospace industry won't have a choice.
– Cloud
33 secs ago
add a comment |Â
1
Plus, the world is awash in oil for the next century or two.
– John K
32 mins ago
@JohnK Yes and no. There will be a point (some sources say in the next 20 years) where the cost of mining oil is higher than any reasonable selling price. Disregarding that, emission legislation will prevent burning of fossil fuels way before we 'run out'. Most European countries are banning the sale of fossil fuels cars by 2040, with some, such as Norway implementing this as soon as 2020! Aviation will surely be next...
– Cloud
13 mins ago
@Cloud There's more untapped fuel in the ground than we have mined in human history. For example, the United States has a policy in place that generally (though not always), we don't harvest our own fuel, as in the event of world war or collapse of the oil industry, we can mine our own for another hundred plus years. It's incredibly easy to swap cars to renewable energy compared to aircraft. The energy expenditure to fly is many multiples of the energy expenditure to roll across the ground. I can tell you that the aerospace industry has no plans to do a "full switch" anytime soon.
– Matt
3 mins ago
@Matt Well if the government impose it, the aerospace industry won't have a choice.
– Cloud
33 secs ago
1
1
Plus, the world is awash in oil for the next century or two.
– John K
32 mins ago
Plus, the world is awash in oil for the next century or two.
– John K
32 mins ago
@JohnK Yes and no. There will be a point (some sources say in the next 20 years) where the cost of mining oil is higher than any reasonable selling price. Disregarding that, emission legislation will prevent burning of fossil fuels way before we 'run out'. Most European countries are banning the sale of fossil fuels cars by 2040, with some, such as Norway implementing this as soon as 2020! Aviation will surely be next...
– Cloud
13 mins ago
@JohnK Yes and no. There will be a point (some sources say in the next 20 years) where the cost of mining oil is higher than any reasonable selling price. Disregarding that, emission legislation will prevent burning of fossil fuels way before we 'run out'. Most European countries are banning the sale of fossil fuels cars by 2040, with some, such as Norway implementing this as soon as 2020! Aviation will surely be next...
– Cloud
13 mins ago
@Cloud There's more untapped fuel in the ground than we have mined in human history. For example, the United States has a policy in place that generally (though not always), we don't harvest our own fuel, as in the event of world war or collapse of the oil industry, we can mine our own for another hundred plus years. It's incredibly easy to swap cars to renewable energy compared to aircraft. The energy expenditure to fly is many multiples of the energy expenditure to roll across the ground. I can tell you that the aerospace industry has no plans to do a "full switch" anytime soon.
– Matt
3 mins ago
@Cloud There's more untapped fuel in the ground than we have mined in human history. For example, the United States has a policy in place that generally (though not always), we don't harvest our own fuel, as in the event of world war or collapse of the oil industry, we can mine our own for another hundred plus years. It's incredibly easy to swap cars to renewable energy compared to aircraft. The energy expenditure to fly is many multiples of the energy expenditure to roll across the ground. I can tell you that the aerospace industry has no plans to do a "full switch" anytime soon.
– Matt
3 mins ago
@Matt Well if the government impose it, the aerospace industry won't have a choice.
– Cloud
33 secs ago
@Matt Well if the government impose it, the aerospace industry won't have a choice.
– Cloud
33 secs ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Yes, there are projects to power the jet engines by oil from plants: canola (rapeseed), coconuts and soybeans. This fuel is also cleaner (less sulfur) and even freezing point (-47 degrees C) is acceptable.
While not an immediate certified replacement, these oils can work as jet fuel without radically re-designing the engine. Some refining technology and suitable engines are under development.
Planes with piston diesel engines could also probably run on this fuel.
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Yes, there are projects to power the jet engines by oil from plants: canola (rapeseed), coconuts and soybeans. This fuel is also cleaner (less sulfur) and even freezing point (-47 degrees C) is acceptable.
While not an immediate certified replacement, these oils can work as jet fuel without radically re-designing the engine. Some refining technology and suitable engines are under development.
Planes with piston diesel engines could also probably run on this fuel.
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
Yes, there are projects to power the jet engines by oil from plants: canola (rapeseed), coconuts and soybeans. This fuel is also cleaner (less sulfur) and even freezing point (-47 degrees C) is acceptable.
While not an immediate certified replacement, these oils can work as jet fuel without radically re-designing the engine. Some refining technology and suitable engines are under development.
Planes with piston diesel engines could also probably run on this fuel.
Yes, there are projects to power the jet engines by oil from plants: canola (rapeseed), coconuts and soybeans. This fuel is also cleaner (less sulfur) and even freezing point (-47 degrees C) is acceptable.
While not an immediate certified replacement, these oils can work as jet fuel without radically re-designing the engine. Some refining technology and suitable engines are under development.
Planes with piston diesel engines could also probably run on this fuel.
answered 24 mins ago


h22
4,6582559
4,6582559
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
Batteries are indeed more feasible then you give them credit for. For short hop flights they are actually within reason:
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/10/scotlands-orkney-islands-may-see-electric-plane-service-by-2021/
...the added benefit of electrifying the Orkney Islands flights is that there's an abundance of renewable energy, especially wind energy, already on the grid in the area.
Though replacing the jet fuel burned by small island-hopping planes in a remote part of the world may seem like a drop in the bucket in efforts to reduce emissions, starting small is often a path to thinking big. If the shortest flights in the world can be flown successfully, gradually longer and longer commercial electric flights may someday be attempted.
New contributor
zymhan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
You might also add a BBC article on Norway - bbc.com/future/story/…
– Jon Custer
1 min ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
Batteries are indeed more feasible then you give them credit for. For short hop flights they are actually within reason:
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/10/scotlands-orkney-islands-may-see-electric-plane-service-by-2021/
...the added benefit of electrifying the Orkney Islands flights is that there's an abundance of renewable energy, especially wind energy, already on the grid in the area.
Though replacing the jet fuel burned by small island-hopping planes in a remote part of the world may seem like a drop in the bucket in efforts to reduce emissions, starting small is often a path to thinking big. If the shortest flights in the world can be flown successfully, gradually longer and longer commercial electric flights may someday be attempted.
New contributor
zymhan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
You might also add a BBC article on Norway - bbc.com/future/story/…
– Jon Custer
1 min ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
Batteries are indeed more feasible then you give them credit for. For short hop flights they are actually within reason:
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/10/scotlands-orkney-islands-may-see-electric-plane-service-by-2021/
...the added benefit of electrifying the Orkney Islands flights is that there's an abundance of renewable energy, especially wind energy, already on the grid in the area.
Though replacing the jet fuel burned by small island-hopping planes in a remote part of the world may seem like a drop in the bucket in efforts to reduce emissions, starting small is often a path to thinking big. If the shortest flights in the world can be flown successfully, gradually longer and longer commercial electric flights may someday be attempted.
New contributor
zymhan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Batteries are indeed more feasible then you give them credit for. For short hop flights they are actually within reason:
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/10/scotlands-orkney-islands-may-see-electric-plane-service-by-2021/
...the added benefit of electrifying the Orkney Islands flights is that there's an abundance of renewable energy, especially wind energy, already on the grid in the area.
Though replacing the jet fuel burned by small island-hopping planes in a remote part of the world may seem like a drop in the bucket in efforts to reduce emissions, starting small is often a path to thinking big. If the shortest flights in the world can be flown successfully, gradually longer and longer commercial electric flights may someday be attempted.
New contributor
zymhan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
zymhan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 12 mins ago


zymhan
1011
1011
New contributor
zymhan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
zymhan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
zymhan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
You might also add a BBC article on Norway - bbc.com/future/story/…
– Jon Custer
1 min ago
add a comment |Â
You might also add a BBC article on Norway - bbc.com/future/story/…
– Jon Custer
1 min ago
You might also add a BBC article on Norway - bbc.com/future/story/…
– Jon Custer
1 min ago
You might also add a BBC article on Norway - bbc.com/future/story/…
– Jon Custer
1 min ago
add a comment |Â
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