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In the Trump Era, Flying Green Doesn’t Matter Anymore—Techno-Economics Always Did For years, sustainability was the buzzword in aviation. Hydrogen planes, electric air taxis, and hybrid engines were supposed to transform the industry. But now? The reality check is here. Germany’s top eVTOL startups—Lilium and Volocopter —are on the brink of insolvency. Airbus is quietly pulling back on its hydrogen-powered ambitions. Even ATR’s hybrid-electric turboprop project has been shelved. Why? Because techno-economics always mattered more than green ideals. • Technology wasn’t ready. Hydrogen fueling infrastructure is nonexistent, battery performance is still a bottleneck, and regulatory approvals take years. • Economics weren’t adding up. Investors were sold on trillion-dollar markets, but the real prize is a much smaller slice—maybe just the $50B helicopter market. • Politics have shifted. Under Trump, the conversation is less about sustainability and more about American dominance—especially against China. The result? Capital is consolidating around companies that can actually execute. Joby Aviation just secured $500M from Toyota Motor Corporation. Archer Aviation raised $300M and is pivoting toward defense. The market is waking up: hype won’t build an industry—techno-economics will. What do you think? Was green aviation ever realistic, or was it doomed from the start? P.S. If this gave you something to think about, consider resharing ♻️ so others can weigh in too.

Sustainable aviation fuel is a myth. And we need to stop pretending it’s the future of decarbonising flying. Here’s why: • Massive power input required – The energy needed to produce it is astronomical. • Not all fuels are created equal – Energy content varies wildly, making scalability unrealistic. • Production is nowhere near demand – Current volumes are a drop in the ocean. • Land use concerns – More deforestation, more monoculture, more palm oil… Do we really want that? • Competing with agriculture – We already struggle with land for food production. This only worsens the crisis. And let’s not forget: More flights, more runways (looking at you, LHR expansion) will cancel out any carbon savings. Even hydrogen? If it’s not green hydrogen, it’s just another con. Most H2 today is made from natural gas, with poor efficiency and huge power demands. Oh, and combustion still releases air pollutants—which actually cause illness and premature deaths. Yet, everyone is obsessed with CO2. Sustainable? Not really. We need real solutions, not industry-backed illusions. What’s your take? Comment below.

Power Couple: AI & Energy – A Transformational Partnership 🚀 AI is key to the rapid transformation demanded in the energy sector. ⚡ AI’s optimising capability can help improve energy efficiency – even managing its own energy-intensive footprint. 🌍 The intersection of AI and energy is reshaping how we power the world. As industries push for clean, sustainable, and secure energy solutions, the challenge is clear: reduce emissions while ensuring scalable, reliable energy to fuel economic growth. The solution? AI and Energy—the ultimate “power couple.” AI: The Driving Force of the Energy Transition AI has the potential to revolutionize how energy is produced, managed, and consumed. ✅ Grid Optimization – AI stabilizes grids, forecasts demand, and integrates renewables. ✅ Predictive Maintenance – AI detects failures before they occur, improving reliability. ✅ Smart Energy Use – AI-powered energy efficiency measures could generate $1.3 trillion in economic value by 2030. ✅ Emissions Reduction – AI could cut global greenhouse gas emissions by 5-10%, equivalent to the annual emissions of the entire European Union. 💡 AI isn’t just optimising energy—it’s driving a fundamental shift in how we power the world. AI’s Energy Footprint: A Challenge and an Opportunity Yet, AI’s energy consumption is skyrocketing. 🔺 AI-powered processes consume 10x more energy than traditional digital services. 🔺 By 2030, AI-driven power demand could rise 18-20% annually, reaching 1,000+ TWh – nearly a quarter of the U.S.’s total power demand. 🔺 Electricity use for AI technologies could increase 3.6x by 2030, adding pressure on global energy systems. The challenge? How do we meet AI’s power demands while maintaining sustainability? The answer? AI must help energy providers optimise their own operations. ⚡ AI-driven demand optimization can cut operational costs by 15% and boost productivity by 10%. ⚡ AI-powered grid management ensures energy resilience amid growing demand. AI is both the problem and the solution. The energy industry must leverage AI to fuel its own transition. Final Thought: AI & Energy – A Power Couple Defining the Future 🔹 AI and energy are inseparable forces, shaping the next wave of industrial transformation. 🔹 AI isn’t just a tool—it’s a strategic enabler of energy efficiency, decarbonisation, and resilience. 🔹 The companies that integrate AI deeply into energy systems today will lead tomorrow. 💡 How is AI reshaping your energy strategy? Let’s discuss. ⚡🌍 #AI #Energy #Sustainability #Decarbonization #DigitalTransformation #AIandEnergy #PowerCouple

How Safety Lapses Hit Boeing's Reputation | FT Film The mid-air blowout of a door plug on an Alaska Airlines flight in January has once again put Boeing's safety culture under scrutiny. Investigations have exposed serious lapses and a fractured safety culture within the storied aircraft manufacturer. The Financial Times examines the root causes behind the company's decline in its recent film. As a journalist focusing on Boeing, I'm frequently asked, "Are the planes safe?" Statistically, yes, but the extraordinary events of recent years have undoubtedly shaken trust. This January incident, coupled with its historical context, highlights systemic issues. It's reminiscent of the 2018 and 2019 tragedies that resulted in 346 fatalities, revealing flaws rooted in both engineering and organizational culture. Since the crashes, multiple whistle-blowers have surfaced, describing pressure to meet production over quality and retaliation against raising safety concerns. Reform measures are underway, but progress has been slow, hindered by a convoluted process culture and workforce dissatisfaction. Despite being a globally pivotal aerospace entity and defense supplier, Boeing faces an existential test. The company must prioritize safety and transparency, engaging its workforce and supply chain as partners rather than expendable resources. A healthy Boeing is crucial not just for competition with Airbus, but for global aviation safety and economic stability. How do you think Boeing can effectively rebuild its reputation? Share your thoughts below.

🌍 The Imperative of a Renewable Energy Transition As global temperatures rise, the urgency to shift towards a renewable-based energy system intensifies. Our survival hinges on maintaining the world on a 1.5°C-compatible trajectory, but this goal requires a radical transformation in how we manage our energy systems. 🗝️Key Priorities for a Sustainable Future: 1️⃣ Infrastructure Modernization and Expansion: To accommodate the new era of renewable energy, substantial investments in modernizing and expanding infrastructure are critical. This includes everything from power grids to digital networks that will support an increasingly electrified and decentralised energy landscape. 3️⃣ Adaptive Policies and Market Innovations: Policymaking must evolve to keep pace with technological advancements, ensuring that markets can efficiently integrate new forms of energy and manage the transition away from fossil fuels. 3️⃣ Capacity Building: Developing human and institutional capacities is fundamental to sustain the growth and integration of renewable technologies across all sectors of the economy. 4️⃣ Evolving Nature of Energy Security: The shift towards renewable energy sources also demands a rethink of energy security paradigms. As the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) report highlights, traditional energy security concerns, deeply rooted in the fossil fuel era, must be reevaluated in the context of renewable systems. The focus shifts from securing supply to ensuring system stability and resilience, emphasizing the well-being of communities and the planet. ✔️A Call to Action: The report underscores the necessity of a multi-faceted approach that includes strategic national decision-making on resource management, recognizing comparative advantages, and addressing emerging threats to energy security. This transition is not merely an energy transformation but a socio-economic revolution that places sustainability and equity at its core. As we move forward, the integration of these elements will define the effectiveness of our global response to climate change and shape the future of global energy security. Let's prioritise these actions to ensure a sustainable and equitable energy future for all. <🔗 Geopolitics of the Energy Transition: Energy Security https://lnkd.in/dt9V-HiC>

Based on the analysis of the dataset, here are the key trends in Zero Emissions Travel and mobility: Technological Focus Areas: 🔸 AI (Artificial Intelligence): This is the most prominent trend, with 97 projects indicating a focus on AI technologies. This suggests a significant interest in using AI to advance zero-emissions travel and mobility solutions. 🔸 Digital Twin: This technology, involving virtual replicas of physical devices, is mentioned in 9 projects, indicating its relevance in optimizing the performance and maintenance of zero-emissions technologies. 🔸 Machine Learning: A subset of AI, mentioned in 7 projects, showing its importance in predictive analytics and data-driven decisions for zero-emissions solutions. 🔸 EV (Electric Vehicle) Charging: With 5 projects focused on this area, it highlights the importance of infrastructure development for electric vehicles as a part of zero-emissions travel. 🔸 Fuel Cell: Mentioned in 2 projects, indicating ongoing interest in fuel cell technology as a clean energy source for vehicles. 🔸 Pressure Vessel: Also mentioned in 2 projects, which may be related to hydrogen storage solutions for fuel cell vehicles. Type of Companies: 🔸 SMEs (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises): The leading segment with 182 projects, showing that SMEs are highly active and possibly driving innovation in zero-emissions mobility solutions. 🔸 Universities: Involved in 86 projects, indicating significant research and development contributions to the field. 🔸 Start-ups: With 53 projects, start-ups are also key players, likely introducing innovative and disruptive technologies. 🔸 Large Companies: Participated in 14 projects, showing their involvement but to a lesser extent compared to SMEs and start-ups. Funding Competitions: 🔸 T-TRIG (Transport-Technology Research Innovation Grants): 187 projects were funded under this scheme, highlighting its role as a major funding source for new technologies in zero-emissions travel. 🔸 TRIG (Technology Research Innovation Grants): 159 projects, showing another crucial avenue for support and funding in this sector. ICF (Innovation Challenge Fund): 15 projects, indicating a smaller, yet significant, contribution to funding innovation in this area. These insights suggest a strong focus on AI and digital technologies as enablers of zero-emissions mobility, with SMEs and universities playing crucial roles in advancing these technologies.

🚀 Revolutionising Sustainable Aviation with AI & LLMs 🌿 A little article written on the subject of Large Language Models and Generative Artificial Intelligence, as I explore the use of local LLMs it occurs to me that Aerospace and Aviation can adopt these solutions, with the appropriate guard rails, to design, develop and bring to the skies technologies which solve the 2050 Net Zero goals of our industry. 🔹Innovative Design: Leveraging AI to optimise aircraft designs for enhanced aerodynamics and fuel efficiency. 🔹Predictive Maintenance: Utilising LLMs for anticipatory safety measures, ensuring reliability and safety in aviation. 🔹Operational Excellence: AI-driven solutions to streamline flight operations, reduce carbon footprint, and save costs. 🔹Customer Experience: Enhancing travel experiences through AI-powered personalisation and efficient service. 🔹Sustainability at Heart: Driving the aerospace industry towards a greener future with AI analytics for environmental impact reduction. Join the Conversation 👥 Let’s discuss how AI and LLMs can further propel the aerospace industry towards sustainability and innovation. Share your thoughts! #SustainableAviation #AerospaceEngineering #AIinAviation #Innovation #Technology #FutureOfFlight #GreenTech #LLM #GenAI #GenerativeAI