PROBLEM & SOLUTION
Problem & Solution
Why Electric Aviation Has Stalled?
Aviation accounts for approximately 2.5% of global carbon emissions and is one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise. The fundamental barrier is energy density:
Jet fuel energy density | Best lithium-ion battery density |
|---|---|
~12,000 Wh/kg | ~260 Wh/kg |
A 46:1 energy density gap means that a battery-powered Boeing 737 would need to carry over 40 times the mass of fuel in batteries to achieve equivalent range which is physically impossible.
The Solution: Treat the Atmosphere as Fuel
AEPEP bypasses the energy density problem entirely by not carrying energy onboard at all.
The sun continuously warms the atmosphere to approximately 288–300 K. A cryogenic working fluid at approximately 77 K provides the cold side. This creates a 200K+ temperature differential which is thermodynamically equivalent to a significant industrial heat source, available everywhere, at all altitudes, with no fuel supply chain required.
The IATA projects global passenger numbers will reach 8.2 billion by 2040. Meeting this demand while achieving net zero requires a propulsion paradigm that does not carry its energy onboard, does not require new ground infrastructure, and produces zero direct emissions. AEPEP is designed to be that paradigm.