Argus Media Limited

09/29/2021 | News release | Distributed by Public on 09/29/2021 08:58

UK awards grants to zero-emission flight projects

The UK government has awarded grants to 15 projects that support the use of electric- or hydrogen-fuelled aircraft.

The contest, run by the UK's Jet Zero Council public-private partnership aimed to develop infrastructure required to aid electric and hydrogen aircraft, so UK airports can handle the change to more renewable energy sources.

The Jet Zero Council has offered grants of up to £50,000 ($68,000) for the projects from 12 organisations, including wireless charging for electric planes, swappable battery packs to keep flight turnover times to a minimum and fuelling tanks that can safely and efficiently refuel flights of the future.

"We believe there will be a hydrogen-electric engine in every aircraft as this is the only viable way to deliver truly zero-emission aircraft and to comprehensively tackle the industry's growing climate impact," said ZeroAvia chief executive Val Miftakhov. "When we deliver our first hydrogen-electric powertrains into service in 2024, operators need to be able to fuel their aircraft with low carbon hydrogen, and today's announcement is a big step towards that." ZeroAvia is one of the winners of the contest, for its liquid hydrogen airport refuelling ecosystem (LHARE).

Earlier this year, the Jet Zero Council launched a £15mn Green Fuel, Green Skies competition, aimed to develop facilities to convert waste into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The UK government has also said a SAF mandate could start in 2025. Since the Jet Zero Council formed last year the government has committed £125mn of funding over four years, to be met with £175mn from industry, to develop "greener" ways to fly, such as all-electric aircraft.

By Bea O'Kelly