From blue skies to green skies: engine technology to reduce the climate-change impacts of aviation

The environmental challenge facing the aerospace industry is a significant one. Despite consistent, continued efforts by industry to reduce the fuel burn, emissions and noise produced by aircraft, concern over climate change means that further advances in technology are required to mitigate the climate impacts of aviation. This paper outlines the current status of the industry, the current understanding of aviation's climate impacts and technology's progress to environmental targets, before investigating opportunities for further emissions reductions. These include technologies to improve the engine's propulsive and thermal efficiencies, technologies enabling reduced thrust requirements and alternative fuels. This paper discusses how Rolls-Royce's Technology Strategy, ‘Rolls-Royce Technology Visions’, enables these innovative technologies to be brought to market, the timescales and challenges associated with their development, and the partnership required between industry and government.