#Sustainability20: EU releases NEATS platform to track aviation’s full climate impact & more
Weekly Round-up - 08/05/26
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
Rocketing oil prices due to the Strait of Hormuz closure have narrowed the cost gap for sustainable aviation fuel, potentially boosting demand for greener alternatives despite ongoing supply challenges.
An upgraded EU tracking system has been launched to monitor aviation’s non-CO2 effects, such as contrails, alongside carbon emissions, streamlining reporting for airlines and supporting climate policy.
A new expert report has highlighted significant scientific uncertainties around non-CO2 aviation effects, warning that mitigation strategies remain complex due to knowledge gaps and trade-offs.
Business aviation has challenged its exclusion from the EU’s green investment taxonomy, arguing the Commission’s reasoning is discriminatory and threatens decarbonisation funding for the sector.
United Airlines has reversed its support for eVTOL air taxis at crowded hubs following a fatal collision, though political shifts and safety concerns appear more influential than airspace congestion figures.
SAS has warned that Europe is heading for a structural e-SAF shortage as mandates loom, risking higher fares and energy vulnerability without immediate investment in production facilities.
CLIMATE WATCH: Airline emissions in Europe top pre-Covid levels despite pledge to decarbonise - The Guardian
European aviation emissions have surpassed pre-pandemic levels, with Ryanair’s carbon footprint rising 50% since 2019, prompting calls to extend carbon pricing to all departing flights.
Infrastructure and operational efficiencies
El Paso Airport has completed two major solar canopy projects, generating 2.9 megawatts of power to offset 22% of its annual electricity use without relying on local taxes.
BAE Systems has opened a major expansion of its New York campus to develop high-voltage energy storage for hybrid and electric aircraft, boosting manufacturing capacity for cleaner propulsion.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
A California-based company has been selected to supply ocean-captured CO2 for a French e-SAF plant, which will produce 75,000 tonnes of fuel annually with an 90% emission reduction.
A first-of-its-kind UK pilot facility has opened in Kent, converting non-recyclable waste plastics into sustainable aviation fuel using a patented process that cuts lifecycle emissions by over 70%.
Hong Kong and Dongguan have partnered on a HK$10 billion biofuel base to produce 450,000 tonnes of SAF annually from waste cooking oil, strengthening the Greater Bay Area’s green aviation chain.
Sasol has achieved Africa’s first ISCC+ certification for SAF and renewable diesel production at its Natref refinery, marking a major shift from ambition to delivery in sustainable fuels.
An international consortium has signed a deal to build Uzbekistan’s first ethanol-to-SAF plant, converting industrial off-gases into 80,000 tons of fuel per year using LanzaTech’s technology.
QNB Group has agreed to finance an Egyptian SAF plant capable of producing 200,000 tonnes of biofuel annually, with Shell committed to buying its entire output once operational.
GPS Renewables has been awarded the contract for India’s first ethanol-to-jet SAF plant at NTPC Green Energy Limited’s Green Hydrogen Hub, which is designed to produce 1,800 tonnes per year using Lummus Technology’s licensed process.
New technology: Electric and Hydrogen
H2Fly’s co-founder has predicted that hydrogen-electric propulsion systems of up to 500 kilowatts could enter production by 2030, though financial market stability remains critical for investment.
Joby flies electric air taxi from JFK to Manhattan in seven minutes as FAA certification nears - TNW
Joby Aviation has completed New York City’s first point-to-point eVTOL demonstration flights, flying from JFK to Midtown in seven minutes, though the economics of air taxi travel remain unproven.
easyJet and Rolls-Royce have successfully tested a modern aircraft engine running on 100% hydrogen at full take-off power, marking a significant step towards zero-emission narrowbody propulsion.
Hydrogen Utopia International has launched Project Fortress Fuel to convert waste plastic into military-grade JP-8 fuel at forward bases, reducing reliance on vulnerable supply chains.
AltoVolo has flown a scaled prototype of its Sigma eVTOL, which now seats two and aims for a 500-mile range, with open rotors replacing ducted fans.