KLM and ZeroAvia Plan Zero-Emission Demonstration Flight Using Liquid Hydrogen

KLM and ZeroAvia Plan Zero-Emission Demonstration Flight Using Liquid Hydrogen

ZeroAvia and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines today announced that they will work towards a demonstration flight using ZeroAvia’s ZA2000 zero-emission, hydrogen-electric engines for large regional turboprop.

Hydrogen-electric engines use hydrogen in fuel cells to generate electricity, which is then used to power electric motors to turn the aircraft’s propellers. The only emission is low-temperature water vapour, with studies therefore estimating an up to 90% reduction in climate impact when compared with typical kerosene-fueled flights.[1] 

As a first major target milestone, the companies aim to conduct an initial A-to-B flight demonstration between two airport locations in 2026. As well as identifying the optimal airport pair, immediate workstreams will be working towards regulatory permits to fly and ensuring supply of liquid hydrogen fuel and putting in place the supporting infrastructure for aircraft fueling. 

Airbus partners with Avolon to explore future of hydrogen aviation

Airbus has announced a new partnership with aircraft lessor, Avolon, to study the potential of hydrogen-powered aircraft, marking the very first collaboration of the ZEROe Project with an operating lessor.

Announced at the Farnborough Airshow, Airbus and Avolon will investigate how future hydrogen-powered aircraft could be financed and commercialised, and how they might be supported by the leasing business model.

Airbus is putting significant resources into exploring how the industry can introduce hydrogen-powered aircraft and how it works on the ground with airports and airlines. The development of a viable hydrogen ecosystem is a key enabler of the industry’s goal to reach near zero emissions.

Paul Geaney, President and Chief Commercial Officer, Avolon, commented, “Joining the ZEROe Project is another step in Avolon’s sustainability journey and we look forward to building on our long-standing partnership with Airbus to consider how the next generation of aircraft will be financed and commercialised. It will take a wide ecosystem of contributors to overcome the challenges of hydrogen powered commercial flight, and Airbus is playing a crucial role in bringing partners together. While we continue to focus on supporting our customers in modernising their fleets with lower emissions aircraft, it is also vital we look beyond that at what can further drive our industry’s decarbonisation.”

Airbus Vice President ZEROe Project, Glenn Llewellyn, said, “There is real value in bringing together industry players to help solve the challenges facing aviation. We know we can’t solve decarbonisation alone and welcome Avolon’s expertise and worldwide leadership in the aircraft leasing business. Working together to consider how the transition can be commercialised and financed for airline customers is crucial to success.”

Further information about Airbus’ hydrogen journey can be found here.

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Vertical Aerospace shows off most advanced and powerful full-scale VX4 prototype ahead of flight test programme

Vertical Aerospace, a global aerospace and technology company that is pioneering zero emissions aviation, today unveiled its next-generation full-scale VX4 prototype, the only electric take-off and landing vehicle (eVTOL) designed, built and assembled in the UK.

This next-generation VX4 is more powerful than the previous full-scale prototype, with an impressive 20% increase in the power-to-weight ratio, enabling the aircraft to reach speeds of up to 150mph – the certification aircraft’s intended cruise speed.

The aircraft has been designed and built alongside global aerospace partners, including GKN Aerospace, Honeywell, Hanwha, Molicel, Leonardo and Syensqo. It features Vertical’s next generation propellers and new proprietary battery technology, designed and manufactured at its multi-million pound state-of-the-art Vertical Energy Centre near Bristol, the UK’s most advanced aerospace battery facility.

The new VX4 prototype has successfully completed systems and aircraft testing and commissioning. Vertical is now working closely with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) as it rigorously evaluates the engineering, design, test data and aircraft ahead of issuing a Permit to Fly, effectively conducting a “mini certification” programme. Vertical will then begin a robust flight test programme at the Vertical Flight Test Centre, with a focus on achieving piloted flight.

Vertical is currently developing an identical full-scale prototype which will accelerate the VX4’s flight test programme and demonstration capability. The company will take flight test learnings from both prototypes into the design and development of the certified VX4 model.

Key new features of the latest full-scale VX4 prototype:

Aerospace partner technology and certification expertise – 60% of the technology and components included on the latest aircraft are from world leading aerospace partners, up from 10% on the previous prototype. This makes it Vertical’s most advanced prototype yet and a step closer to the aircraft that the company will take through to certification.

First use of battery designed and built for aviation – This battery and powertrain system, developed at the Vertical Energy Centre, is the most powerful and lightest yet, has rapid charge time and multiple backup power sources. The VX4’s batteries are designed to meet the performance, safety, operational and commercial requirements of eVTOL and it is the first time its own proprietary batteries have been used on a full-scale prototype. The electronics, software and design of the battery have all been developed in house and the new aircraft includes new, more powerful Electronic Propulsion Units.

Next generation propellers – Vertical’s new proprietary propellers designed specifically for eVTOLs are optimised for low noise and made of carbon fibre composite using a single-shot cure process to maximise integrity. The aerodynamic shape has been specifically designed to maximise performance across both hover and cruise by deconflicting the requirements of each phase of flight.

Stuart Simpson, Chief Executive Officer, Vertical, commented:  “Our goal is to build the safest and most advanced aircraft in this new category of transport. With the new full-scale VX4 prototype, which has been built by combining our own world-leading technology with that from leading aerospace partners, we are well on the way to achieving that goal.

Airbus welcomes London Gatwick to global hydrogen hub network

Airbus has teamed up with London Gatwick, easyJet and Air Products, the world’s largest hydrogen supplier, to expand hydrogen capability and infrastructure in the UK as the manufacturer moves closer to its target of getting a hydrogen-powered aircraft in the sky by 2035. 

Setting up the right infrastructure is key to enabling hydrogen flight and this partnership is yet another step towards making this a reality in the UK. 

Under Airbus’ Hydrogen Hubs at Airport's framework, the scope of work covers liquid hydrogen supply and storage at the airport, refuelling and ground handling of hydrogen aircraft, as well as the exploration of other, shorter-term opportunities for using hydrogen at London Gatwick. 

Because early hydrogen-powered aircraft will initially focus on short to medium-haul routes, London Gatwick’s position as the UK’s leading hub for these services, along with easyJet’s operational insight as a short-haul carrier, makes this the ideal testbed for R&D into critical support infrastructure. This collaboration between Airbus, London Gatwick, easyJet and Air Products will serve as a powerful statement of commitment to making hydrogen-powered flight a reality by 2035. 

Airbus Vice President ZEROe Project Glenn Llewellyn said: “Our licence to operate hinges on finding better ways to fly. We know hydrogen has the versatility to be an excellent fuel source for decarbonising the industry. We’ve set ambitious targets to fly on hydrogen by 2035 and this technology needs to be supported by reliable and tested infrastructure. Sharing knowledge and best practices at airports will be critical for building the right hydrogen ecosystem around the world and we look forward to working with all consortium members to develop the support for the technology and end-to-end hydrogen supply chain that will power future flight.”

American Airlines commits to conditional purchase of 100 ZeroAvia hydrogen-powered engines

 American Airlines today announced that it has entered into a conditional purchase agreement with clean aviation innovator ZeroAvia for 100 hydrogen-electric engines intended to power regional jet aircraft with zero inflight emissions save for water vapor.

In addition, American has increased its investment in ZeroAvia. American made its first investment in ZeroAvia in 2022 and has also now participated in the company’s Series C financing round. The engine agreement follows the Memorandum of Understanding the companies announced in 2022.

ZeroAvia is developing hydrogen-electric (fuel cell-powered) engines for commercial aircraft, which offer the potential for close to zero inflight emissions. The company is flight testing a prototype for a 20-seat plane and designing an engine for larger aircraft such as the Bombardier CRJ700, which American operates on certain regional routes.

“Advancing the transition of commercial aviation to a low-carbon future requires investments in promising technologies, including alternate forms of propulsion,” said American’s CEO Robert Isom. “This announcement will help accelerate the development of technologies needed to power our industry and uphold our commitment to make American a sustainable airline so we can continue to deliver for customers for decades to come.”

Air New Zealand receives 500,000-litre delivery of Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Air New Zealand has received a shipment of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) into Wellington, its first delivery to the nation’s capital city and another small step towards its target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Manufactured by EcoCeres in China from 100 percent used cooking oil and supplied and blended by Exxon Mobil, the 500,000-litre delivery is equivalent to *165 flights on an A320 aircraft between Auckland and Wellington, however, it should be noted that the fuel will actually not be used on the heavy use aircraft of the Airbus fleet, but on ATR regional domestic aircraft. The SAF delivered to Wellington represents life-cycle carbon emissions savings of at least 80 percent compared with fossil jet fuel.  

Air New Zealand’s Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer, Kiri Hannifin says moving away from purely using fossil fuels for Air New Zealand’s operations is critical. 

“As the main driver of climate change, the global economy, including New Zealand, must rapidly transition away from our high reliance on fossil fuels.  For a small island nation in the South Pacific, alternatives are even more important because we are heavily reliant on flying to connect with each other in our own country, as well as when we travel abroad.  Aviation also plays a very important role supporting New Zealand’s trade and tourism sectors. 

”To keep doing all these activities which enrich our country’s economy we must act as quickly as we can to transition to a lower-carbon future.  At the moment, SAF is the key way aviation will move towards this. 

“Airlines are signing supply arrangements for SAF 10 years into the future and beyond, so we need to be part of the picture from the start otherwise New Zealand may fall behind.  While the volumes of SAF we are buying are very small compared to the amount of fossil jet fuel we use, they give an important signal to alternative fuel producers that we are open for business,” says Ms Hannifin. 

‘World’s First’ Sustainable Aviation Fuel Project to be Built at Saltend......

Plans are now in place to build a state-of-the-art First-of-a-Kind demonstration plant at px Group’s Saltend Chemicals Park in the heart of the UK’s energy estuary.

px Group has announced that OXCCU will develop a First-of-a-Kind (FOAK) demonstration plant at its Saltend Chemicals Park in the Humber that will convert carbon dioxide and green hydrogen into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

px Group and OXCCU have announced a groundbreaking project that will convert carbon dioxide and green hydrogen into sustainable aviation fuel.

OXCCU is a leading carbon-to-value company that develops catalysts and processes to convert carbon dioxide and green hydrogen into fuels, chemicals and plastics.

The climate-tech spin-out from the University of Oxford has demonstrated the world’s first direct carbon dioxide (CO2) hydrogenation process, turning CO2  directly into aviation fuel range hydrocarbons, also known as SAF, with minimal oxygenate byproducts. 

The project presents a novel approach to SAF production simplifying a multi-step process to a single step.

OXCCU will now build a First-of-a-Kind (FOAK) demonstration plant at Saltend Chemicals Park, which will be fed by biogenic carbon dioxide, and green hydrogen. The plant is expected to produce 160 kilos (200 litres) of liquid fuel per day, of which the majority will be SAF. The approach directly aligns with the Advanced Fuel Fund’s objective to use carbon dioxide as a carbon source for SAF production due to feedstock concerns at scale with the other biofuel SAF routes. 

Green credentials on show....IAG Cargo transitions 160-truck fleet at London Heathrow to run on hydrotreated vegetable oil

IAG Cargo is putting green credentials on show by transitioning from Diesel to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil for its 160-strong ground vehicle fleet at London Heathrow.  HVO is a drop-in replacement for White Diesel, made from plant waste and fully renewable materials, meaning that it has a significant impact on net carbon emissions.

For IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group says the transition to HVO will reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90% and significantly reduces nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM). These reductions will reduce IAG Cargo’s overall Scope 1 emissions by approximately 50%, contributing to the company’s sustainability targets.

David Rose, Director of London Operations at IAG Cargo said: “Transitioning our fleet of ground vehicles from diesel to HVO showcases our commitment to sustainable operations. This move to HVO for our large fleet at London Heathrow is just one of the actions we are taking to reach our goal of net-zero by 2050 and will pave the way for a more sustainable future at IAG Cargo.” 

In addition to transitioning to HVO, IAG Cargo is looking for further ways to reduce the carbon impact of its global fleet. This includes measures such as additional electric vehicles (EVs), and a concerted effort to streamline the total vehicles in operation, with its fleet at its Dublin hub already powered by electric or HVO vehicles. 

The fleet consists of a range of vehicles from small vans to large tugs which can tow trailers holding several tonnes of cargo. The transition to HVO was completed in March 2024. Since then, the benefits have been continuously measured, which will continue into the coming months.

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Another milestone in electric motor tech for H55

H55, a pioneering leader in electric aviation, is pleased to announce a significant milestone in its pursuit of certifying its electric motor technology. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has agreed to H55's Compliance Check list (CCL) for its electric motor and motor controller, demonstrating the safety and performance of the entire electric propulsion management system (EPS).

This achievement follows closely on the heels of H55's previous success in gaining approval for its battery packs and energy management systems. These two significant achievements positions H55 as the first company to satisfy all certification requirements for the entire EPS which includes the motor, motor controller, battery modules and energy management systems.

These certifications are tailored for general aviation and commuter applications with the first set of systems being integrated into certified flight trainers which will soon enter the market.

Headquartered in Switzerland, H55 is at the forefront of electric aviation, specializing in electric propulsion, battery storage, and energy management solutions. With a commitment to safety, performance, and sustainability, the company is committed to enabling the aviation industry to reach et Zero emissions, offering cutting-edge technologies for a greener and more efficient future of air travel.

The newly established agreement with EASA marks another important achievement in H55's mission to revolutionize clean aviation. It is a crucial step in securing formal certification of H55's complete electric propulsion system and an important recognition by the certification authorities on the reliability and capabilities of the company's propulsion solutions.

CityAirbus NextGen makes its debut

                                           Airbus has presented its full electric CityAirbus NextGen prototype to the public, ahead of its maiden flight later this year. The two-tonne class CityAirbus, with a wing span of approximately 12 metres, is being developed to fly with a 80 km range and to reach a cruise speed of 120 km/h, making it perfectly suited for operations in major cities for a variety of missions. 

The unveiling coincided with the opening of the new CityAirbus test centre in Donauwörth, which will be dedicated to testing systems for electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (eVTOLs). The centre, which is part of Airbus’ ongoing and long-term investment in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), began its operations with the CityAirbus NextGen’s power-on in December 2023 and it will be now used for the remaining tests required before the prototype’s maiden flight later in the year. These tests cover the electric motors with their eight rotors as well as the aircraft’s other systems such as flight controls and avionics.

Airbus' carbon removal initiative gets first North American airline sign up from Air Canada

Airbus announced a contract was signed with Air Canada for the aeroplane manufacturer's carbon-removal initiative. Air Canada is the first North American airline to sign up for The Airbus Carbon Capture Offer, which uses Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage (DACCS) technology to offer airlines worldwide carbon removal credits to advance their decarbonisation goals.

Airbus' partner 1PointFive will issue the carbon removal credits. Airbus' agreement with 1PointFive includes the pre-purchase of 400,000 tonnes of carbon removal credits to be delivered over four years. Air Canada's credits will last from 2026 to 2029.

DACCS technology filters and removes CO2 emissions directly from the air using high-powered extraction fans. Once removed from the air, the CO2 is stored in underground reservoirs. CO2 emissions released into the atmosphere during aircraft operations cannot be directly eliminated at the source, but with DACCS, an equivalent amount can be extracted from the air.

ZeroAvia Engines to Power Ecojet

Ecotricity founder Dale Vince’s newly launched airline to use hydrogen-electric propulsion technology pioneered in the Cotswolds.

This week ZeroAvia confirmed it has signed an agreement with newly launched airline Ecojet for up to 70 hydrogen-electric, zero-emission engines.  

Ecojet – which aims to become the flag carrier for green Britain – will begin operations in 2024 with conventionally powered aircraft operating routes to and from Edinburgh, before converting its fleet to become what it aims to be the world’s first electric airline. The airline will achieve its goal by retrofitting its aircraft with ZeroAvia’s ZA600 engines once certified. Ecojet will be working with MONTE, ZeroAvia’s preferred ZA600 lessor partner, in bringing this groundbreaking technology to market. ZeroAvia is targeting type certification of the ZA600 engine in 2025.  

The newly launched airline has also placed a larger order for the more powerful ZA2000 engine, designed for up to 80 seat regional turboprops and with an entry-in-service target of 2027. This will open up the potential to fly aircraft such as the ATR72 and Dash 8 400, already popular on regional routes across the world.  

ZeroAvia, Ecojet and MONTE will work together with airports and other industry partners, to identify and finance the first pathways to hydrogen-electric commercial operations. ZeroAvia analysis shows that, if powered by UK wind-generated green hydrogen, domestic flights would have lower lifecycle carbon emissions per passenger than any other common mode of transport today, including fully occupied cars, domestic rail and coach travel.

Val Miftakhov, Founder and CEO, ZeroAvia said:  “Clean aviation will mean increased regional air travel and new routes, Ecojet can capitalize based on their clear focus on low-emission travel. The UK Government’s Jet Zero Strategy has set a great example for the world to follow, but the UK can go much further by being early to act and introducing some of the first zero-emission routes in the world.”

Dale Vince, Founder, EcoJet, said:  “We don’t have to give up flying to live a green lifestyle or to get to net zero as a country – and this is big news.  The technology is here now and the planes are coming very soon – carbon free, guilt free flying is just around the corner.  And although aviation is responsible for only a small part of all global emissions, it occupies a far bigger space than that in our psyche.  The hearts and minds value of this new opportunity outweighs the carbon issue significantly. It shows that everything we need to do, can be done, with a low to zero carbon footprint. And that is big news and a big encouragement to us all.”

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In June, ZeroAvia announced that it had signed a definitive purchase agreement with lessor MONTE for 100 engines. MONTE will provide financing for Ecojet’s powertrain purchase, installation and operation, meaning that Ecojet will become the lessors first confirmed customer, and recipient of their currently reserved production slots with ZeroAvia.

Rishi Majithia, Head of Investment, MONTE said:  “Since signing our definitive purchase agreement with ZeroAvia, we have been working closely with ZeroAvia and our global network of aircraft operators to reach tri-party agreements on the use of the ZA600 powertrain. Ecojet’s commitment to using the ZA600 whilst being financed by MONTE is one of the first of these partnerships and we are excited to be working with an operator that is aligned with our goals of decarbonizing regional aviation.”

ZeroAvia recently completed a program of 10 test flights of a prototype of its ZA600 for the Dornier 228 aircraft at its UK base in Kemble, Gloucestershire. In May, the company unveiled its testbed aircraft for testing the ZA2000 engine, a Dash 8 400 76-seat plane provided by Alaska Airlines, as well as announcing rapid progress in developing the core technologies for flying these larger aircraft. 

Hydrogen-electric engines use hydrogen in fuel cells to generate electricity, which is then used to power electric motors to turn the aircraft’s propellers. The only emission is water.

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United to buy 1 billion gallons of sustainable aviation fuel ......

Cemvita Corporation announced an offtake arrangement with United Airlines for up to 1 billion gallons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from Cemvita’s first full-scale SAF plant. Under the agreement, signed by Cemvita and United Airlines, Cemvita will supply United Airlines up to 50 million gallons annually for 20 years of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) made from CO2.

“Since our initial investment last year, Cemvita has made outstanding progress, including opening their new pilot plant – an important step towards producing sustainable aviation fuel,” said United Airlines Ventures President Michael Leskinen. “United is the global aviation leader in SAF production investment, but we face a real shortage of available fuel and producers. Cemvita’s technology represents a path forward for a potentially significant supply of SAF and it’s our hope that this offtake agreement for up to one billion gallons is just the beginning of our collaboration.”

Game Changing Technologies: Commercialized SAF is currently made from used cooking oil and agricultural waste. Cemvita's technology has the potential to provide more reliable feedstock production with minimal land, water, and electricity needs. Furthermore, the output of eCO2 plants has the potential to be carbon-negative and Cemvita is aiming to be cost competitive with existing crop based HEFA feedstocks and fuels, which is a crucial factor for the successful adoption of any new biomanufacturing process.

WestJet endorses widescale Canadian production of sustainable aviation fuel

Chief Executive Officer, Alexis von Hoensbroech attends 24th World Petroleum Congress and addresses opportunity for a collective effort to achieve aviation industry's net-zero target of 2050

WestJet Group Chief Executive Officer, Alexis von Hoensbroech, this week at the World Petroleum Congress in Calgary, addressed the airline's ambitions to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and the vital role sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plays in the future of decarbonizing aviation. With no current technological alternative for large commercial aircraft propulsion, airline reliance on sustainable jet fuel will be foundational to the decarbonization of the aviation industry. With its abundant space to grow feedstock, a large oil and gas industry and robust federal sustainability goals, Canada holds the necessities to facilitate the large-scale production of SAF.

"Air travel is essential to Canadians and critical to the nation's economy; with the right regulatory environment and collaborative efforts of producers and airlines, Canada has an enormous opportunity to further its global leadership in energy sustainability through SAF production," said Alexis von Hoensbroech, WestJet Group Chief Executive Officer. "The time is now for a regulatory framework to create a competitive investment climate for sustainable aviation fuel production, right here in Canada, that keeps air travel affordable and accessible."

No Stone Unturned in Quest for Net Zero

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reemphasized that every drop of fuel avoided counts in the aviation industry’s quest to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 with the latest result from the IATA Fuel Efficiency Gap Analysis (FEGA). 

LOT Polish Airlines (LOT) is one of the airlines to undertake the FEGA, which identified the potential to shave its annual fuel consumption by several percent. That equates to an annual reduction by tens of thousands of tonnes of carbon from LOT’s operations.

“Every drop counts. Since its inception in 2005, FEGA has helped airlines identify cumulative savings of 15.2 million tonnes of carbon by cutting fuel consumption by 4.76 million tonnes. LOT is the latest example of an airline exploring all opportunities to achieve every incremental efficiency possible in fuel consumption. That’s good for the environment and for the bottom line,” said Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s Senior Vice President Sustainability and Chief Economist.

On average, FEGA has identified fuel savings of 4.4% per airline audited. If fully realized across all audited airlines, these savings, which stem primarily from flight operations and dispatch, equate to removing 3.4 million fuel-powered cars from the road. 

The FEGA team analyzed LOT’s operations against industry benchmarks in flight dispatch, ground operations, and flight operations to identify fuel savings potential. The most significant ones were identified in flight planning, emission reduction through implementation of aviation procedures and refueling operations.

Airbus, Barclays Sustainable Impact Capital and NEOM co-lead ZeroAvia’s latest financing round

 ZeroAvia has announced that Airbus, Barclays Sustainable Impact Capital and NEOM have co-led the company’s latest financing round. 

 

Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Horizons Ventures, Alaska Airlines, Ecosystem Integrity Fund, Summa Equity, AP Ventures and Amazon Climate Pledge Fund have also participated in the investment.

 

This investment will enable ZeroAvia to accelerate progress towards certification of its first engine as well as delivering the company’s mission of a hydrogen-electric engine in every aircraft.

 

In conjunction with the investment, Airbus and ZeroAvia have agreed to collaborate on certification approaches for hydrogen power systems. The companies also intend to work together on a number of critical technical areas, including liquid hydrogen fuel storage, flight and ground testing of fuel cell propulsion systems, and development of hydrogen refueling infrastructure and operations.

 

ZeroAvia is pursuing hydrogen-electric propulsion systems as the most environmentally friendly and economically attractive solution to aviation’s growing climate change impact. The company’s hydrogen-electric engines use hydrogen in fuel cells to generate electricity, which is then used to power electric motors to turn the aircraft’s propellers, with the only byproduct during flight being water.

 

Airbus partners with DG Fuels to foster sustainable aviation fuel production in the United States

This partnership will support the scaling of a promising technology to produce sustainable aviation fuels from cellulosic waste and residues.

Airbus has become a strategic partner with DG Fuels, LLC (“DGF”), an emerging leader in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

"Sustainable aviation fuels play a crucial role in enabling aviation's decarbonisation roadmap. We are committed to supporting all efforts that contribute to making them available at scale around the globe," said Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury. "The partnership with DG Fuels supports the emergence of a new technological pathway allowing for the production of SAFs from a broader range of waste and residue sources, first in the U.S with a potential for large-scale production worldwide."

DGF’s fuel production system is based entirely on cellulosic waste products, such as wood waste from the logging industry, and renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power.

DGF’s plant aims to have an initial production capacity of 120 million US gallons (454 million litres) of SAF per year on average, which could save approximately 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually from 2026.

"The DGF team is excited to have finalised this SAF partnership with Airbus," commented Michael Darcy, Chairman and CEO at DG Fuels, "and we look forward to working together to accelerate the initial SAF facility in Louisiana and the subsequent scale up at various locations in the United States and beyond.”

The partnership with Airbus supports DG Fuels’ goal of launching the equity process and reaching a final investment decision (FID) on building DG Fuels’ first SAF plant in the United States. The decision would be expected by early 2024. In this context, Airbus and DGF have agreed for a portion of the production of the first plant to benefit Airbus’ customers.

Joby subsidiary H2FLY completes World’s first piloted flight of liquid hydrogen powered electric aircraft

H2FLY, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Joby Aviation has announced the successful completion of the world’s first piloted flight of a liquid hydrogen-powered electric aircraft.

H2FLY, acquired by Joby in 2021, continues to lead the industry on the development and testing of hydrogen aviation propulsion systems. The company completed a series of piloted flights with its HY4 demonstrator aircraft, including one that lasted more than three hours, fitted with a hydrogen-electric fuel cell propulsion system and liquid hydrogen that powered it for the entire flight.

The flights demonstrate the viability of using cryogenically-stored liquid hydrogen instead of gaseous hydrogen, which enables significantly lower tank weights and volume, leading to longer range. The successful installation and demonstration of flight with liquid hydrogen is believed to increase the range of H2FLY’s HY4 demonstrator aircraft from 466 mi (750 km) to 932 mi (1500 km), marking a critical step towards the long-term decarbonization of mid- to long-range aviation.

UK hydrogen alliance established to accelerate zero carbon aviation and bring an £34bn* annual benefit to the country.

A group of leading companies in the UK aviation and renewable energy sectors including easyJet, Rolls-Royce, Airbus, Ørsted, GKN Aerospace and Bristol Airport, have today established the Hydrogen in Aviation (HIA) alliance to accelerate the delivery of zero carbon aviation. HIA will work to ensure the UK capitalises on the huge opportunity hydrogen presents to both the aviation industry and the country as a whole.

While there are various options for decarbonising the aviation sector, including sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), synthetic fuels or batteries, HIA believes that more attention should be paid to the potential of the direct use of hydrogen.

Hydrogen is a very promising alternative-fuel option for short-haul aviation. Airbus is developing new hydrogen-powered aircraft with the aim of entering commercial service from 2035 and Rolls-Royce has already proven that hydrogen could power a jet engine following successful ground tests in 2022. Furthermore, many smaller operators are making rapid progress on hydrogen-powered aircraft, notably ZeroAvia and Universal Hydrogen who have already carried out flight tests.

The group will be drawing on their considerable expertise to propose a clear and deliverable pathway to achieving hydrogen-powered aviation. HIA will work constructively with Government, local authorities, and the aviation and hydrogen sectors to enable the UK to fulfil its potential as a global leader in this critical application of hydrogen technology. This will include setting out the pathway for scaling up the infrastructure and the policy, regulatory and safety frameworks needed so that large-scale commercial aviation can become a reality. 

The alliance will set out that Government needs to be focused on three key areas which are; supporting the delivery of the infrastructure needed for the UK to be a global leader; ensuring the aviation regulatory regime is hydrogen ready; and transforming the funding for hydrogen aviation R&D support into a 10 year programme, if the UK is to see the economic benefits and meet decarbonisation targets.

Johan Lundgren, CEO of easyJet and first Chair of HIA, said:   “There is no doubt that the UK has the potential to become a world leader in hydrogen aviation, which could bring with it a £34bn per annum boost to the country’s economy by 2050, but in order to capture this opportunity, rapid change is needed and the time to act is now.

We must work together to deliver the radical solutions required for a hard to abate industry like aviation so we can protect and maximise the benefits that it brings to the UK economy and society and that we know British consumers want to be preserved. 

HIA looks forward to working with the UK Government to ensure the right funding, regulatory and policy changes are implemented to accelerate the delivery of zero carbon aviation.”

Grazia Vittadini, Chief Technology Officer at Rolls-Royce, said:  “Collaboration is key when it comes to achieving our net zero ambitions as an industry, which is why we are proud to be part of the Hydrogen in Aviation Alliance. Our contribution to HIA is the capability and experience we have in pioneering new technologies and solutions - we have already tested a modern aero engine on green hydrogen and we strongly believe it is one of the solutions that will help decarbonise aviation in the mid to long-term.”

Sabine Klauke, Chief Technology Officer at Airbus said:   “As Airbus continues to mature the aircraft technologies needed to deliver hydrogen-powered flight, a united industry voice is needed to secure a robust ecosystem of renewably-sourced hydrogen. Joining our peers from across the UK aviation landscape in a targeted approach to policy and investment action brings us closer to a decarbonised future of flying." 

Olivia Breese, Senior Vice President and Head of Power-to-X for Ørsted, commented:  “Ørsted is fully committed to renewable hydrogen as a key solution to defossilise hard-to-electrify sectors such as aviation. Our long experience in developing and deploying new technologies has taught us that collaboration across policy makers, developers, customers and supply chain - and considerable investment from each of them – is critical to bring down costs and drive a new sector to scale. Alliances such as the HIA are essential to bring together different actors across the value chain to support and accelerate the role hydrogen can, and must, play in the UK.”

Hydrogen is key to UK industry, jobs and net zero ambitions:

First embodied carbon estimate tool for airport terminals developed by IATA and Atkins

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), working with Atkins, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group has created a suite of innovative digital tools for airports to estimate the embodied carbon associated with the construction of terminal buildings and aviation assets – for the first time.

The digital toolkit will enable airports to better understand and mitigate the impacts of construction-related activities that contribute to carbon.

As the global aviation industry continues its post-pandemic growth, modernizing and adapting infrastructure to meet Net Zero targets and the needs of sustainable aviation, the need to reduce embodied carbon in new buildings such as terminals and runways is ever more pressing. 

The digital tools will deliver embodied carbon benchmarking for the three key airport asset types of terminal buildings, runways and multi-storey car parks. This will enable airport development teams to understand the carbon footprint of development work and enter into dialogue with airport operators about how to mitigate it.

The new tools, developed by IATA and Atkins are believed to be the first early stage embodied carbon assessment tools specifically focussed on airport terminal buildings.

While most current tools measure carbon in general buildings, and at a later stage in the design, this new digital toolkit is specific to Aviation and to be applied at very early stage in the design – adding the most value.