Life Cycle Assessment of Aircraft Maintenance: Environmental Implications of Battery Electric Propulsion Systems

Abstract

The electrification of aircraft propulsion systems is currently being intensively investigated to reduce climate-damaging emissions during flight operations. Battery Electric Propulsion Systems (EPSs) are highly complex and require regular maintenance to ensure airworthiness. In particular, the limited lifespan of batteries necessitates frequent replacements, which can lead to significant environmental impact. This paper discusses possible maintenance activities for battery EPSs and their environmental implications. The environmental assessment is based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which considers the impact of individual maintenance tasks over the entire aircraft life cycle. The LCA results show that the environmental impact of maintenance increases significantly with the use of the electrical system compared to conventional propulsion systems. Two different battery scenarios with state-of-the-art and projected energy densities towards the year 2035 show significant potential for improvement. In our analysis, the batteries, which have to be replaced a total of eight times during the evaluated life cycle, account for the largest contribution to the environmental impact. At the same time, battery EPSs offer the potential to significantly reduce the environmental impact of flight operations, as there are no direct emissions into the atmosphere. The results highlight the need to consider maintenance-related environmental impact alongside operational improvements, providing a foundation for future strategies that minimise the impact while ensuring operational safety and efficiency. Nevertheless, implementing these systems presents significant challenges from a maintenance perspective, particularly in avoiding environmental burden shifting.