The event kicked off with a warm welcome by Victor Rijkaart. As the clock struck 4:15 PM, the audience was treated to a presentation of the Smart Energy Airport paper study and preliminary findings by Rogier Schoon, energy transition expert at Shell. He shared his insights into current energy consumption patterns at Rotterdam The Hague Airport and explored the future energy requirements for electric aircraft.
Key Insights and Discussions
During this café the importance of electrification in light of potential delays in hydrogen developments was emphasized. The focus was on how airports can strategically shift towards more sustainable practices. Rogier Schoon presented supply and demand scenarios for airports. A striking takeaway from his presentation was the immense amount of green electricity required to power a single-aisle aircraft flight. This underscores the need for robust infrastructure and innovative solutions to support the electrification of aviation.
Further enriching the discussion, researcher at TU Delft, Yawen Liang and Master Student Raf van de Luijtgaarden at TU Delft presented their work on predicting charging demand and investigating grid integration for future electric aircraft. Their research highlighted how flight profiles and related energy needs of general aviation aircraft and eVTOLs (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing aircraft) affect flight schedules. This exploration into grid integration is crucial for ensuring that airport infrastructure can accommodate future energy demands.
Networking and Future Collaborations
The event concluded with a networking session, offering participants the chance to exchange ideas and collaborate on innovative solutions regarding these challenges. Attendees were encouraged to share their thoughts on the next steps for making airports smarter and more energy-efficient.
Inspired by the fruitful discussions and the spirit of collaboration, RHIA invited participants to engage further by reaching out with project ideas or co-development proposals. As we continue to navigate this journey, events like these remind us of the power of collaboration and innovation in shaping a better tomorrow in aviation.
