Experimental E-plane [image credit: Siemens]

If only batteries could lose some of their heavy weight during flight, matching the reductions achieved by burning fuel, he might be onto something. But as they can’t, this looks like more pie in the sky.
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Exclusive: Acting Liberal Democrat leader calls for green short haul flights to be UK’s next “moon landing mission”, reports i-news.

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey is calling for all domestic flights to be zero carbon by 2030, arguing the target must become the UK’s new “moon landing mission”.

Commercial planes run mainly on fossil fuels, and engineers are struggling to design a zero carbon passenger jet to replace them.

Electric planes are in their infancy, hampered by the need for large, heavy batteries.

Hydrogen-powered planes could be an option, if the costs of sustainable production processes can be curbed.

Becoming the first nation in the world to solve these problems and master zero carbon flight would cement the UK’s green technology prowess and expand its green manufacturing base, Sir Davey said.

Green technology

“If we harness the power of green technology we can save jobs and create jobs, and give hope to people in communities across our country,” he said. “Green flight could be one of the next transformational technology shifts, and the UK must be at the forefront of this new era of aircraft.”

Continued here.

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July 20, 2020 at 03:39AM