(University of Louisiana at Lafayette) An energy storage and power generation system being designed at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette could make flying the friendly skies less harmful to the environment.
Solid oxide fuel cells are “a key component” within that system, said Dr. Xiao-Dong Zhou. Their inclusion in the next generation of electric aircraft could cut carbon emissions – and that’s caught the eye of the U.S. Department of Energy, which awarded UL Lafayette a $2.26 million grant this fall.
Commercial aviation accounts for about 2.6% of greenhouse gas emissions, but as air travel increases, so does this environmental impact. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide are a primary culprit in global climate change.