This blog, by Dexter Johnson, says that when it comes to nanotechnology and energy, it’s the mundane that is interesting. He points to the announcement from the United Kingdom-based airline EasyJet that they are embarking on a 12-month test of a new nanocoating for the exterior of their planes. The coating could reduce fuel consumption by as much as two percent. Johnson says: “When your annual fuel bill is £730m (nearly US$1.2 billion), then that 2% can mean a savings of £14m (approximately US$22.4 million). Suddenly a coating becomes interesting, doesn’t it?” The coating, even when covering an entire aircraft, only adds about four ounces to the total weight of the airplane, filling in all the pits and crevices that exist within the paint on a microscopic scale, ensuring that no debris or dirt builds on the surface. EasyJet is initially using the coating on eight of its planes, but plans to coat the rest of their 200-plane fleet if the cut in fuel costs is as expected. Johnson concludes: “If this catches on with the entire commercial airline industry, then cuts in fuel consumption would be dramatic along with similar reductions in carbon emissions. You see, you don’t have to create a super efficient solar cell to make an impact in energy applications with nanotechnology.” The article can be viewed online at the link below.
