All of Norway’s short-haul airliners should be entirely electric by 2040, the country’s airport operator said on Wednesday, cementing the Nordic nation’s role as a pioneer in the field of electric transport.
Avinor, the public operator of Norwegian airports, “aims to be the first in the world” to make the switch to electric air transport, chief executive Dag Falk-Petersen said.
“We think that all flights lasting up to 1.5 hours can be flown by aircraft that are entirely electric,” he said, noting that would cover all domestic flights and those to neighbouring Scandinavian capitals.
In the near future, Avinor plans to launch a tender offer to test a commercial route flown with a small electric plane with 19 seats, starting in 2025.
Norway, the largest oil and gas producer in western Europe, is paradoxically a leader in the field of electric transport.
By market share, it has more electric cars on the road than any other country in the world – electric and hybrid vehicles represented more than half of new car registrations in 2017 – and also has several projects underway for electric vessels.
“When we will have reached our goal, air travel will no longer be a problem for the climate, it will be a solution,” Falk-Petersen said.
According to official statistics, air transport accounts for 2.4% of Norwegian greenhouse gas emissions for domestic traffic, and more than double that when international routes are included.
Electric air travel will also at least halve noise levels and the operating cost of aircraft, Falk-Petersen said.
But before reaching that point, Avinor said it would need to use intermediary technologies, such as biofuels and hybrid fuel-electric solutions.
Boeing and Airbus are currently exploring the viability of electric aircraft.
After abandoning a project for 100% electric planes last year, Airbus decided to refocus its efforts on developing a hybrid model, signing a partnership with British engine maker Rolls Royce and German industrial group Siemens. The first flight is planned for 2020.
Zunum Aero, a start-up partly financed by US aeronautics group Boeing, plans to bring a hybrid plane to the market by 2022.
Source:AFP
GMT 12:00 2018 Wednesday ,28 November
6th Gulf Intelligence Oman Energy Forum opensGMT 13:32 2018 Thursday ,22 November
Russia's Sovcomflot considers acquiring LNG-fueled shipsGMT 08:21 2018 Monday ,19 November
Russia expects new joint energy projects with VietnamGMT 09:34 2018 Sunday ,18 November
US, Japan, Australia, NZ to bring electricity to Papua New GuineaGMT 11:38 2018 Thursday ,08 November
World Bank member offers 71 mln USD for building wind power plant in JordanGMT 12:27 2018 Friday ,02 November
Proportion of renewable energy reaches 38 per cent in GermanyGMT 12:26 2018 Friday ,02 November
Proportion of renewable energy reaches 38 per cent in GermanyGMT 07:01 2018 Tuesday ,09 October
First high-level renewable energy conference to kick off in Cairo TuesdayMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor