Speaker Interviews
Dr Michael Sielemann, aerospace industry director
Modelon, Germany
How do you see the advancements in electric and hybrid aerospace technologies influencing the future of sustainable aviation over the next decade?
We have seen a lot of advancements already, albeit mostly in professional niche applications or on a smaller scale. The upcoming decade will see a gradual scale-up of solutions and a continuous roll-out to the market. The business case is enabled by emissions trading, critically complementing consumer demand. In this way, electric and hybrid technologies will slowly enter the standard consumer realms and therefore begin to chip away aviation's carbon footprint.
What are the key challenges that the industry faces in transitioning to electric and hybrid propulsion?
Light-weight energy storage remains the central obstacle for aviation. After the limiting characteristics of battery electric approaches left their mark on feasibility charts, hydrogen-electric concepts emerge as most promising concepts. Light-weight and safe liquid hydrogen storage as well as efficient thermal management of fuel cells are now the key challenges faced by the industry.