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Stream/Area:
-
Subject:
-
Paper ID:
IJSREM61801
Volume:
10 |
4 |
April 2026
Pages:
1-3
Publication Frequency:
Monthly (12 issues per year)
License:International Journal of Scientific Research in Engineering and Management follows the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) License, allowing free use and distribution with proper attribution.

Aviation
VELS UNIVERSITY
Aviation
VELS UNIVERSITY
Aviation
VELS UNIVERSITY
Aviation
VELS UNIVERSITY
Aviation
VELS UNIVERSITY
The aviation industry is continuously exploring ways to reduce fuel consumption and environmental impact without compromising performance. This paper presents a Solar Assisted Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) designed to support aircraft electrical systems using renewable energy. The proposed system integrates lightweight, thin-film photovoltaic panels on the aircraft fuselage to generate supplementary power during ground and limited flight operations. Unlike conventional approaches, the design avoids wing integration to prevent aerodynamic disturbances, ensuring minimal impact on aircraft stability and performance. The generated energy is stored in onboard batteries and utilized to assist the APU, thereby reducing fuel dependency and emissions. The study highlights the feasibility of combining solar energy with existing aircraft systems as a step toward more sustainable and efficient aviation.
KEYWORDS
This project shows that using solar energy to support an aircraft’s APU is a practical and meaningful step toward greener aviation. By placing lightweight solar panels on the fuselage, it is possible to generate extra electrical power without disturbing the aircraft’s performance. The stored energy helps reduce the load on the APU, which in turn lowers fuel usage and emissions. Overall, the idea is simple but effective—it doesn’t replace existing systems but supports them in a smarter way. With further development, this approach can contribute to making aircraft more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly in the future.
[1] J. A. Duffie and W. A. Beckman, Solar Engineering of Thermal Processes, 4th ed., Wiley, 2013. [2] A. Filippone, Advanced Aircraft Flight Performance, Cambridge University Press, 2012. [3] T. Corke, “Design of Solar Powered Aircraft for Continuous Flight,” Journal of Aircraft, vol. 44, no. 3, pp. 1010–1020, 2007. [4] M. A. Green, “Thin-Film Solar Cells: Review of Materials, Technologies and Commercial Status,” Journal of Materials Science, vol. 18, pp. S15–S19, 2007. [5] N. S. Lewis, “Research Opportunities to Advance Solar Energy Utilization,” Science, vol. 351, no. 6271, 2016. [6] S. N. Singh and R. Singh, “Solar Energy Integration in Aircraft Systems: A Review,” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 47, pp. 1–12, 2015. [7] A. Noth, R. Siegwart, and W. Engel, “Design of Solar Powered Airplanes for Continuous Flight,” ETH Zurich Report, 2008. [8] Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Aircraft Electrical Systems Handbook, FAA Publications, 2016. [9] R. Teodorescu, M. Liserre, and P. Rodriguez, Grid Converters for Photovoltaic and Wind Power Systems, Wiley, 2011. [10] J. Nelson, The Physics of Solar Cells, Imperial College Press, 2003.
Publication Date
4/30/2026
Peer Review Type
Double-Blind Peer Review
Review Rounds: 2
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Conflict of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest related to this research work.
Funding Information
No funding information available for this research.
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