#Sustainability20: Gulfstream Completes World's First Transatlantic 100% SAF Flight & More
#Sustainability20: Gulfstream Completes World's First Transatlantic 100% SAF Flight & More
Weekly Roundup - 24/11/23
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
The KPMG NetZero Readiness Report 2023 indicates that without major changes, aviation and governments won’t meet 2050 net-zero carbon targets. Slow sustainable fuel production, long aircraft development times, and political challenges hinder progress.
The Dutch government suspended plans to reduce flights at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport due to pressure from the U.S., Canada, and the EU, causing uncertainty for airlines like JetBlue and ongoing legal battles.
At the Wings of Change Europe event, discussions highlighted how sustainability initiatives, particularly in electric and hydrogen-powered aircraft for shorter routes, are key to aviation's 2050 net-zero carbon target. Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) remain crucial, with advancements in production and policy support emphasised.
CLIMATE WATCH: New Record: Portugal Achieves Six-Day Streak of Renewable Energy Consumption - EnergyPortal.eu
Portugal set a renewable energy record, producing more energy than consumed for 149 hours using wind and solar power, and operated without natural gas for 131 hours. This progress towards carbon neutrality by 2050, including plans to decommission gas-fired plants by 2040, positions Portugal as a leader in sustainable energy.
Infrastructure and operational efficiencies
Airbus UpNext's Blue Condor, a modified glider, completed its first hydrogen-powered flight, marking a milestone in studying hydrogen contrails. This experiment is part of Airbus' ZEROe project, aiming to understand hydrogen's climate impact for low-carbon aviation.
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Europe's second busiest in 2022, is advancing in sustainability with pilots to reduce pollution on the apron and inside the terminal. Initiatives include an Ultrafine Particles Action Plan and innovative air filtering technologies, aiming to significantly reduce emissions despite high aircraft movements.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
Gulfstream Aerospace completed the first transatlantic flight using 100% SAF, flying from Savannah to Farnborough in a Gulfstream G600.
Emirates conducted a demonstration flight using 100% SAF in one engine of an A380, a significant step towards industry adoption of SAF for reducing emissions. This aligns with Airbus' goal for all aircraft to be 100% SAF capable by 2030, supporting the aviation sector's net-zero targets.
The UK's Department for Transport allocated £53m to nine SAF projects, aiming to create 10,000 green jobs by 2035 and boost the economy by £1.8bn annually.
Project Speedbird, a collaboration between Nova Pangaea Technologies, LanzaJet, and British Airways, has received £9 million from the UK Government's Advanced Fuels Fund. The project aims to produce SAF using innovative technology to convert waste into biofuels, supporting the UK's net zero targets.
The "Air-CRAFT" initiative, launched in Dubai during the 3rd ICAO Conference, aims to develop SAF technologies. This UAE-based consortium, supported by various stakeholders, including the government, will research and scale SAF, aligning with the UAE's 2050 net-zero goal and supporting global decarbonisation efforts in aviation.
American Airlines and JetBlue Airways urge greater support from the government and the energy industry for SAF development to meet carbon emission goals. Despite SAF agreements, production remains low. Current U.S. incentives are deemed insufficient for scaling SAF production, contrasting with the EU's mandates but without financial incentives.
Delta has joined the Americans for Clean Aviation Fuels (ACAF) coalition, promoting SAF to boost the U.S. economy and create jobs.
New technology: Electric and Hydrogen
A Norfolk aviation firm, Saxonair, is set to make history with the world's first certified electric plane's maiden flight from Norwich Airport. The Pipistrel Velis Electro, developed for passenger pleasure flights, represents a significant step in electric aviation, with plans for a network of solar-powered charging points across East England.
The US Air Force's X-plane program has launched the X-66A, the first X-plane focused on green aircraft technology, aiming to cut fuel consumption by 30%. Developed by Boeing and NASA, the Transonic Truss-Braced Wing (TTBW) technology aims to reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency.
Barcelona-based designer Oscar Viñals has developed the Sky OV, a futuristic supersonic plane concept powered by hydrogen fuel and electric power. The design features advanced engine technology, including bladeless turbines, aiming for high speeds and improved fuel efficiency. The Sky OV, accommodating up to 200 passengers, represents a vision of sustainable and luxury air travel.
Aviation faces challenges in adopting cleaner technologies like electric and hydrogen power. NASA's development of solid-state batteries offers promise, but current technology is insufficient for large passenger aircraft. Small electric aircraft show progress, yet the shift to battery-powered commercial flights, especially long-haul, remains distant.
Japan Airlines (JAL) has partnered with H2FLY, Universal Hydrogen, and ZeroAvia to explore integrating hydrogen fuel cell solutions into its regional aircraft fleets. These collaborations aim to meet JAL's net-zero CO2 emissions goal by 2050, focusing on retrofitting existing aircraft and developing new hydrogen-powered solutions.
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Overair have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore vertiport development and eVTOL aircraft operations in the DFW Metroplex. The partnership focuses on integrating passenger eVTOL operations like Overair’s Butterfly for advanced urban air mobility, assessing feasibility, policies, infrastructure, and operational procedures.
London-based Bellwether Industries’ Oryx is a three-seat personal eVTOL aircraft. Designed for urban air mobility, the sleek Oryx has a sports car-like appearance without external wings or propellers, offering a 50-mile range in under 20 minutes. Bellwether aims for European personal use approval by 2028 and is expanding its global presence with a new office in the Middle East.
Spanish startup Crisalion Mobility, formerly Umiles Next, showcased its Integrity eVTOL aircraft at the Dubai Airshow. The aircraft, designed for a single pilot and five passengers, offers a range of 100 km at 180 km/h. Crisalion has raised over $16 million and plans a new funding round in 2024. The Integrity features the patented FlyFree stability control system.