Decarbonising Aerospace; Considerations about Hydrogen, SAF…and autonomous electric air taxis! With Boeing

In this episode of Exploring Clean Energy, Andy is joined by Hannah Monaghan, Boeing’s Australia Lead for Sustainability Reporting & Governance. Together they unpack aviation’s decarbonisation pathway, discussing everything from Hydrogen, SAF, Electric flight, aircraft design and operational efficiencies.

Hannah’s Highlights:

1:05 - Boeing in Australia & NZ: 98+ years, ~4,500 people, Melbourne composites, RAAF sustainment
3:50 - Why decarbonise aviation: ~2% of emissions today, APAC demand set to grow
6:15 - Boeing’s pillars: fleet renewal, advanced tech, operational efficiency, renewable energy, market measures
9:40 - Aircraft lifecycles (30–40 yrs) and retrofits: winglets, 787 curved wings, 777X folding tips
13:20 - Certification reality: safety testing - why it takes time
15:30 - Ops efficiency wins: smarter arrivals, single-engine taxi, collaboration with airports & ATC
18:10 – Carbon offsets to removals: CORSIA basics, first ocean-based removals MOU; green hydrogen by-product
21:05 - SAF 101: drop-in fuel, HEFA pathway, feedstocks (UCO, ag residues, MSW)
24:30 - Where SAF is today: blends to 50% certified across Boeing fleet; pathway to 100%
27:10 - Supply, policy & refineries: keeping feedstock onshore; AU & NZ outlooks
31:00 - Turnarounds & infrastructure: why SAF fits current refuelling ops; blending mandates
33:40 - Electric & hydrogen: use-cases, grid “greenness”, long-haul constraints for Australia
38:10 - Cascade 2.0: open modelling to test SAF, hydrogen, electric and grid scenarios
41:20 - Materials & circularity: composites, cabin “one-percenters” (lightweight recycled carpets)
44:30 - Barriers & opportunities: stackable incentives, global harmonisation, jobs & fuel security
48:10 - Final take: now is the moment - coordination across industry, government and communities

About Hannah

Hannah Monaghan is the Australia Lead for Sustainability Reporting & Governance within Boeing’s Global Enterprise Sustainability team (since Jan 2024). She joined Boeing in 2022 in Government Affairs after roles advising Australia’s Federal Minister for the Environment and the NSW Minister for Family & Community Services. An organic chemist by training, Hannah holds a Bachelor of Medicinal Chemistry from UTS.

Connect with Hannah - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-monaghan-392249133/

Links

• Boeing - https://www.boeing.com/
• Boeing on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/boeing/
• Boeing on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/boeing/
• Cascade (aviation decarbonisation modelling) - https://cascade.boeing.com/
• Australia Aviation Outlook (Cascade) - https://cascade.boeing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Australia-Aviation-Outlook.pdf
• Boeing Hydrogen Factsheet - https://www.boeing.com/content/dam/boeing/boeingdotcom/principles/sustainability/assets/pdf/Hydrogen_Factsheet.pdf
• CSIRO–Boeing SAF Roadmap (2023) - https://www.boeing.com.au/news/2023/csiro-boeing-roadmap-charts-flight-path-to-sustainable-skies
• SAF State of Play (2024 update) - https://www.boeing.com.au/content/dam/boeing/en-au/pdf/boeing-and-csiro-saf-state-of-play-report-2024.pdf
• Wisk (autonomous electric air taxi) - https://wisk.aero/

Produced by The Podcast Boss