#Sustainability20: China's CATL Promises A Revolutionary Long-Range Electric Aircraft By 2028 & More
Weekly Roundup - 28/06/24
Each Friday, we publish a round-up of the 20 most important stories on sustainable aviation. You can see previous editions of #Sustainability20 here.
Industry Updates
Lufthansa will introduce an environmental cost surcharge to cover EU-mandated SAF blending requirements and other regulatory environmental costs, ranging from 1 Euro up to 72 Euros depending on route and ticket type.
Transport & Environment calls for better monitoring of ultra-fine particles near airports, highlighting potential health impacts on nearby residents and gaps in current monitoring efforts.
European ECLIF3 flight test study shows significant contrail reduction with 100% SAF – GreenAir News
A European study found that 100% sustainable aviation fuel reduced contrail ice crystals by 56% compared to conventional fuel, demonstrating significant potential for reducing aviation's climate impact.
CLIMATE WATCH: Islands in the Maldives Were Expected to Vanish. Climate Science Tells Another Story - The New York Times
Research shows that low-lying tropical islands have not shrunk as predicted due to climate change, with some even growing. Scientists are still studying the reasons behind this unexpected phenomenon.
Infrastructure and operational efficiencies
Munich Airport has implemented a sustainable energy generation container from FlowGen, combining wind, solar, and battery storage to charge electric vehicles, producing enough energy for 4-6 cars daily.
Emirates saves 48,000 tonnes of fuel and cuts 151,000 tonnes of carbon emissions through Green Operating Procedures, focusing on flight speed, route optimisation, and load distribution.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
LanzaTech and LanzaJet have launched CirculAir, a joint offering and end-to-end technology that converts nearly any waste, carbon, and renewable power into SAF, potentially reducing aviation emissions by at least 85%.
Air New Zealand has received its first shipment of SAF in Wellington, saving at least 80% in lifecycle carbon emissions compared to fossil jet fuel.
Rolls-Royce has partnered with Shell to develop SAF, aiming to certify 100% SAF for use in planes by 2023 and address the current shortage of supply.
OMV Petrom has signed a contract with Expur S.A. for vegetable oil supply to produce SAFl and renewable diesel at the Petrobrazi refinery, starting deliveries in 2028.
LanzaJet has received investment from MUFG as part of a $100 million growth equity funding round, supporting the company's development of SAF technology.
Copersucar and Geo bio gas&carbon have signed an MOU to develop technology for converting biogas into SAF, planning a commercial demonstration plant for 2025.
Sedona Airport has become Avfuel's first location in Arizona to offer SAF, supporting general aviation and aerial firefighting activities with a cleaner fuel alternative.
New technology: Electric and Hydrogen
Chinese battery giant CATL has successfully test-flown a 4-ton aircraft using its ultra-high density "condensed batteries," aiming for an 8-ton electric aircraft with a 2,000-3,000 km range by 2027-2028.
magniX has launched a new "Samson300" battery line for electric and hybrid-electric aircraft, featuring 300 Wh/Kg energy density and 1,000 full discharge cycle life.
Region Gotland has signed an agreement with Heart Aerospace to accelerate the introduction of sustainable air travel, aiming for commercial electric flights to and from the island.
Lilium completed the first tests of its electric jet propulsion unit, reaching maximum thrust and preparing for initial series production near Munich.
Ferrovial Vertiports has partnered with UrbanLink Air Mobility to explore eVTOL landing sites in South Florida, planning to connect communities like Miami and West Palm Beach by 2026.
Wisk Aero acquired software company Verocel to enhance the testing and development of its autonomous eVTOL aircraft, planning to begin operations before the end of the decade.
Joby Aviation plans to launch aerial ridesharing in New York City and Los Angeles, initially employing former military and commercial airline pilots for its eVTOL air taxis.
US startup e1 Air plans on-demand hydrogen production from methanol at airports by 2025, initially for ground vehicles and later for fuel-cell-powered electric aircraft.