#Sustainability20: Dawn Rises On Solar-To-Jet Fuels As Synhelion Opens Its First Industrial Scale Plant & More
#Sustainability20: Dawn Rises On Solar-To-Jet Fuels As Synhelion Opens Its First Industrial Scale Plant & More
Weekly Roundup - 05/07/24
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
Universal Hydrogen, a prominent hydrogen propulsion startup, has closed down after running out of funds, marking a setback for the nascent hydrogen ecosystem in aviation.
IAG CEO Luis Gallego has warned that European airlines will need to raise prices to fund carbon emission reduction, potentially impacting demand and competitiveness due to the EU's net-zero targets.
London Luton Airport has published its new Responsible Business Strategy, focusing on decarbonisation, self-generation electricity, and community education, while achieving Level 4 'Transformation' in the Airport Carbon Accreditation scheme.
SKYPRO has launched the first Voluntary SME ESG Report in the uniform industry, aligning with upcoming EU guidelines and offering circular services to reduce environmental impact.
AFRA and IAEG have partnered to promote environmental responsibility and circular economy in aerospace, focusing on sustainable management of aircraft components and materials.
BSI has begun developing an independently verifiable international standard on net zero, aiming to provide clarity and accelerate progress towards sustainability, with launch planned for COP30 in 2025.
US$2.55bn green bond issuance concludes at JFK Airport’s New Terminal One - Passenger Terminal Today
New Terminal One at JFK Airport has concluded a $2.55bn green bond issuance, the largest-ever municipal bond financing for an airport project, demonstrating investor confidence in the development.
CLIMATE WATCH: Most people in petrostates want quick switch to clean energy, UN poll finds - The Guardian
A UN climate opinion poll has shown that the majority in fossil fuel-producing countries want a quick transition to clean energy, with high support in China, India, US, and Saudi Arabia.
Infrastructure and operational efficiencies
IATA and Aviation Sustainability Forum have launched a standardised Cabin Waste Composition Audit to guide waste reduction efforts in the aviation industry.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
Dawn rises on solar-to-jet fuels as Synhelion opens its first industrial-scale plant – GreenAir News
Synhelion has inaugurated the world's first industrial-scale plant in Germany to produce synthetic fuels from solar heat, aiming to produce renewable transportation fuel for aviation and other sectors.
Mönchengladbach Airport has become the first in Germany to offer continuous supplies of SAF, partnering with TotalEnergies for regular deliveries.
China has launched its first technical centre for SAF, focusing on standards and product research, positioning itself as a leader in the global SAF market.
Aether Fuels has secured $34 million in Series A financing to accelerate the scale-up of sustainable fuels technology for aviation and ocean shipping industries.
IATA has welcomed a Spanish legislative proposal to promote SAF production through incentives, R&D funding, and public-private partnerships.
Shell has temporarily paused construction of an 820,000-tonne biofuels facility in Rotterdam to reassess project delivery and market conditions.
New technology: Electric and Hydrogen
American Airlines has strengthened its investment in hydrogen aviation with a conditional order for 100 ZeroAvia hydrogen-electric aircraft engines and an increased stake in the company.
Eve Air Mobility has raised $94 million in new equity financing to support continued development of its eVTOL aircraft, nearing completion of the first full-scale prototype.
SkyDrive has conducted a feasibility study for integrating air taxi flights with railway services in Japan, exploring vertiport development near train stations.
NASA has used a custom virtual reality flight simulator to study passenger experience in eVTOL aircraft, aiming to inform design for improved comfort.
EHang has conducted passenger-carrying demonstration flights of its EH216-S pilotless eVTOL aircraft in China, marking the start of a low-altitude tourism initiative.
GE Aerospace has partnered with NASA to develop a hybrid electric demonstrator engine for electric aircraft, completing initial component-level testing and engine performance test.