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Poncin_31221700_2020.pdf
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- The introduction of jets triggered an era of unprecedented human mobility and generates now millions of jobs worldwide. However, conventional commercial aviation produces noise pollution near airports and contributes to global warming, notably by emitting about 3% of global carbon dioxide emissions, and probably up to 10 percent by 2050 if no action is undertaken. Recent technological breakthroughs made it possible to increase the jet engine efficiency to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. However, these improvements are being offset by the significant increase in air traffic, estimated at almost 5% per year. As a result, there is an urgent need to reduce commercial aviation’s climate impact, which promotes the development of carbon-free aircraft concepts thanks to novel propulsion systems. The main goal of this work is to evaluate the potential of aircrafts with electrified propulsion systems, in particular all-electric aircraft, to be more sustainable, while assessing their technical and economic feasibility. The methodology used is based on the so-called "layered" sustainability analysis developed by Michael F. Ashby. After an environmental, societal, and legislative contextualization, the feasibility is assessed, notably through analyses of scientific journals and calculations of energy requirements to study the range of all-electric aircrafts. Then, a study estimates the economic viability for airlines to operate carbon-free aircrafts. Finally, a systematic methodology applied to a case study is presented, allowing a selection of durable and lighter materials to reduce the in-flight energy needs. These topics will lead to synthesize the drivers and obstacles according to the pillars of sustainable development. A reflection will eventually highlight various issues and prospects of carbon-free commercial aviation. The technological feasibility analysis reveals the many challenges that all-electric aircraft will have to face. Among these, the energy density of the batteries will have to reach a value of about 800 [Wh/kg] to enable these carbon-free aircrafts to cover half of all commercial flights. However, those aircrafts will be more sustainable, especially by eliminating all in-flight emissions of pollutants and by reducing noise pollution. Moreover, the economic feasibility study shows that their use would imply a reduction in costs for airlines between 20 and 43%. All-electric aircraft offers new synergies such as improved fuel efficiency combined with new possibilities of designs and flight parameters, which could promote the development of carbon-free aircrafts more rapidly than estimated based on analogous comparisons with conventional aircrafts.