# A bumpy ride toward decarbonizing aviation

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2021-12-02
- Length: 50m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2021-12-02-a-bumpy-ride-toward-decarbonizing-aviation

## Summary

Dan Rutherford, Director of Aviation and Maritime Programs at the International Council on Clean Transportation, evaluates the decarbonization pathways for aviation, including sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs), hydrogen, and electrification. He explains that while SAFs are the most viable near-term solution, they face high costs and limited supply, whereas hydrogen and electric aircraft face significant physical constraints regarding energy density and storage volume. Rutherford argues that SAFs will dominate through 2040, with hydrogen potentially playing a larger role in regional flights after 2035, while electric aviation remains limited to very short-range commuter flights due to battery mass penalties.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2021-12-02-a-bumpy-ride-toward-decarbonizing-aviation#t=7) Introduction: Aviation's Climate Impact and Industry Context
- [3:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2021-12-02-a-bumpy-ride-toward-decarbonizing-aviation#t=236) Aviation Emissions: CO2 vs. Radiative Forcing
- [7:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2021-12-02-a-bumpy-ride-toward-decarbonizing-aviation#t=421) Airline Economics and Post-Pandemic Recovery
- [10:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2021-12-02-a-bumpy-ride-toward-decarbonizing-aviation#t=606) Sustainable Aviation Fuels: Four Feedstock Buckets
- [22:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2021-12-02-a-bumpy-ride-toward-decarbonizing-aviation#t=1339) Hydrogen Aviation: Airbus Designs and Infrastructure
- [31:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2021-12-02-a-bumpy-ride-toward-decarbonizing-aviation#t=1915) Electric Aviation: Battery Mass and Range Constraints
- [36:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2021-12-02-a-bumpy-ride-toward-decarbonizing-aviation#t=2170) Winning Pathways: SAFs, Hydrogen, and Electric Timeline
- [38:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2021-12-02-a-bumpy-ride-toward-decarbonizing-aviation#t=2302) Consumer Tools: Emissions Disclosure and Flight Shaming
- [39:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2021-12-02-a-bumpy-ride-toward-decarbonizing-aviation#t=2393) Airline Net Zero Commitments and SAF Procurement
- [43:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2021-12-02-a-bumpy-ride-toward-decarbonizing-aviation#t=2614) Niche Markets: eVTOLs and Supersonic Aviation

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Airbus (company)
- Boeing (company)
- ZeroAvia (company)
- Energy Hub (company)
- Atmos Financial (company)
- Google Flights (product)
- Kayak (product)
- Whisk (company)
- Boom Supersonic (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [HIBT Lab! Universal Hydrogen: Paul Eremenko](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-10-20-hibt-lab-universal-hydrogen-paul-eremenko) (How I Built This)
- [Can We Electrify Aviation? Electric vs Fuel Planes #24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2024-10-04-can-we-electrify-aviation-electric-vs-fuel-planes-24) (Hard Tech Podcast)
- [Why Electric Aviation Is Finally Becoming Possible | Anders Forslund](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2026-09-03-why-electric-aviation-is-finally-becoming-possible-anders-forslund) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [The All-Electric Trend Needs To Stop. There Are Other Power Options | Hard Tech #9](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-07-02-the-all-electric-trend-needs-to-stop-there-are-other-power-options-hard-tech-9) (Hard Tech Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2021-12-02-a-bumpy-ride-toward-decarbonizing-aviation. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Catalyst.