Off-grid charging of electric aircraft facilitated by renewables coupled with energy storage

This paper presents a methodology for optimising the sizing of a flight school electric aircraft off-grid charging system powered by renewable energy sources and including energy storage to meet the Jet Zero strategy target for a greener ground-based infrastructure to achieve net zero aviation in the United Kingdom by 2050. The analysis uses solar and wind data measured at an airfield in the south east of England. Annual charging load profiles were created using the specification of a battery electric aircraft used for pilot training. The results show that continuous usage of one electric aircraft throughout the year for three training sessions per day requires an off-grid system with a minimum solar and wind capacity of 22 kW and 2.5 kW, respectively, coupled with 133 kWh battery storage. Using two electric aircrafts to allow a quick turnaround at the flying school increases the size of the system to 43 kW for solar, 5 kW for wind and a battery of 264 kWh. The payback period for both scenarios is 8.4 years, assuming the price per kWh is £0.51/kWh similar to the current rate of public fast/slow charging station and decrease to 5.5 years when the charging price is set at Rapid/Ultra-rapid station level of £0.75/kWh