Please join Electrical and Computer Engineering and the SHREC Center for a Distinguished Speaker event this fall. 

Dr. Hao Huang will present in Benedum 1145 on October 28th at 10:30am. All SSOE faculty and students are welcome. 

BIO: Dr. Hao Huang, Retired Technology Chief of GE Aerospace—Electrical Power since 2020, shaped technical directions, innovation strategies, and product roadmaps while pioneering advances in aircraft electrical power. With 37 years of experience in power systems, generation, starting, electronics, controls, and electric vehicle drives, he holds 80 U.S. patents, ~300 foreign patents, and numerous publications. He is an NAE Member, IEEE Fellow, NAI Fellow, SAE Fellow, and a distinguished adjunct professor at the University of Houston. Earning his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder in 1987, he received the 2019 IEEE Transportation Technologies Award.

Abstract: Electrified Aircraft Propulsion (EAP) has traditionally aimed to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reliance on fossil fuels, but the global net-zero 2050 goal demands a sharper focus on large commercial transport aviation. My work focuses on the primary GHG source of the aircraft, utilizing four emissions metrics and three categories of GHG reduction strategies to assess the role of EAP. The analysis indicates that the aviation electrification industry must adapt its technologies to emerging engine classes, aligning development with the needs of net-zero emissions. A promising path is a closed-cycle, engine-based turboelectric system powered by green fuel, ensuring CO₂-free operation. The generator links the engine to an AI-driven electrical power distribution system, supplying distributed electric propulsors within an integrated architecture. Progress depends on advances in electric machines, power electronics, and industry collaboration to ensure scalable, manufacturable solutions. With such integration, EAP can become a cornerstone of aviation’s net-zero GHG future.