Technology
Alternative Energy Solutions
Alternative energy sources offer the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Boeing is pioneering advancements in environmentally progressive energy sources in three key fields:
- Second-generation biofuels--Boeing will conduct joint biofuel demonstration flights in 2008 with Virgin Atlantic and GE Aviation, and with Air New Zealand and Rolls-Royce, and in 2009 with Continental Airlines and GE Aviation, with an initial emphasis on sustainable biofuels that could be applied to the existing airplane fleet to further reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
- Solar cells--Wholly-owned subsidiary Spectrolab is one of the world's leading manufacturers of solar cells, powering everything from satellites and interplanetary missions to renewable solar energy companies in California, Arizona and Australia. Spectrolab's Earth-based concentrator cells currently hold the world's record with 40.7 percent efficiency in converting sunlight to electricity, and the company is pioneering new technologies anticipated to yield further improvements.
- Fuel cells--Fuel cells directly convert hydrogen into heat and electricity without combustion, reducing the need for conventional fuels, eliminating emissions (except for heat and water) and lowering noise. Experimental flight tests of a Boeing Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell/lithium-ion battery system will take place in 2008, even as the company continues to study additional fuel cell technologies, including a Solid Oxide fuel cell.