South African researchers are set to play an important role in specialised technological applications that could have far reaching effects in mitigating climate change. This may come as a surprise because technological innovation and advance is associated with the high tech industries and research institutes of the global North.
Professor Arnaud Malan in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Cape Town (UCT) has developed a team to explore the possibility of using liquid hydrogen in the aeronautical industry. This is a fuel that could reduce carbon emissions by up to 40% and make a significant contribution to measures to combat climate change.
While South Africa has long been a leader in knowledge production in Africa its impact has seldom been obvious in the aeronautical industry. Now, Malan’s work in Industry Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) provides evidence that South Africa can join the global project of significantly reducing carbon emissions in commercial jetliners.
The effects of climate change are increasingly evident. Almost every week there are reports of huge swings in weather patterns, devastating floods, extreme heat and cold. There is increasing urgency in finding solutions to slow down the warming of the planet.
One of the major areas of engagement has been to reduce carbon fuel emissions. There has been a shift to electrical cars and solar panels. The aeronautical industry, particularly large passenger aircraft, has been a harder nut to crack.
Air transport is the second largest producer of greenhouse gasses. It has however proven particularly challenging to decarbonise. There is now an obvious need for the all-hands-on-deck approach. The challenge is being approached on multiple levels but search for new non-carbon fuels and scientific research that accompanies this venture is one of the major tools being used to pursue this goal.