* New targets to reduce aviation’s carbon emissions and prevent them from increasing above pre-pandemic levels in future
* Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) mandate to ensure at least 10% of jet fuel is SAF by 2030
Cranfield University’s Director of Aerospace and Jet Zero Council Member, Professor Iain Gray, has welcomed the new Jet Zero Strategy launched at Farnborough International Airshow today [19 July 2022].
The strategy commits UK domestic aviation to achieving net zero emissions by 2040, and for all airports in England to be zero-emission by the same year. It also includes a plan for the industry to stay below pre-pandemic levels of carbon emissions through measures focused on everything from delivering system efficiencies to new technologies, with progress monitored annually.
Professor Gray said: “Aviation is on a rapid journey towards net zero. The new strategy marks the opportunities ahead to recover from Covid-19, accelerate innovation and drive more collaboration to achieve sustainability in aviation.
“Cranfield University has a vital role in bringing our sustainable aviation research and developments to the fore, supporting new technologies and approaches across the sector.
“There’s no doubt there is a real challenge here in moving to net zero, but this is a challenge the sector with support from academic partnerships and leading research can achieve, and there is a real desire to do so.”
Cranfield University already plays a significant role in accelerating sustainable aviation research and translating this to regulated aviation. As the only university in Europe with its own airport, alongside leading aerospace research facilities and world-renowned experts, Cranfield is harnessing digital and physical technologies to achieve rapid innovation.
Aviation is currently responsible for around 2.5% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. With the sector contributing £22 billion to our economy and set to grow as it recovers from the pandemic, the Jet Zero Strategy provides the tools to help future-proof the aviation sector, deliver guilt-free air travel, and create thousands more green jobs around the country.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “We want 2019 to be remembered as the peak year for aviation emissions. From now on, it should all be downhill for carbon emissions – and steadily uphill for green flights.”
The six priority areas set out in the strategy are:
* Improving the efficiency of our existing aviation system, from aircraft to airports and airspace.
* Increasing support for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), by creating secure and growing UK SAF demand through a SAF mandate that will require at least 10% of jet fuel to be made from sustainable sources by 2030.
* Supporting the development of zero-emission aircraft, with the aspiration of having zero-emission routes connecting places across the UK by 2030.
* Developing carbon markets and greenhouse gas removal technologies to drive decarbonisation and offset any residual emissions, including by enhancing the UK Emission Trade Scheme (UK ETS).
* Providing consumers with better information so they can make sustainable aviation choices.
* Increasing our understanding of the non-CO2 impacts of aviation, such as contrails and nitrogen oxides.
The Jet Zero Strategy builds on the Prime Minister’s Net Zero Strategy, the UK’s economy-wide plan for achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
As part of the Strategy, the Government has announced today a new mandate for at least 10% SAF to be blended into conventional aviation fuels by the end of the decade.
Made from waste materials such as household waste, sewage, or used cooking oil, these fuels offer, on average, greenhouse gas emissions savings of more than 70% compared to conventional fossil jet fuel when fully replacing kerosene.
SAF is a core part of the Jet Zero Strategy, and from today pioneering projects looking to produce SAF in the UK can bid for a share of the new £165m Advanced Fuels Fund.Val Miftakhov, Founder & CEO, ZeroAvia and a member of the Jet Zero Council said:
“The Jet Zero Council played a critical role in establishing momentum behind zero-emission solutions for aviation, such as ZeroAvia’s hydrogen-electric propulsion systems. Today’s strategy is the next step, and will help to ensure the UK remains a global leader in our sector.”
Today’s announcements come as the Transport Secretary launches the next phase of his historic challenge to the aviation industry to deliver the first transatlantic flight running on 100% SAF in 2023. Following a call for expression of interest in May this year, companies can now bid for up to £1m of funding. The Government will announce the final successful applicant later this year.
The above announcements support the work of the Jet Zero Council, which met today at the iconic Farnborough International Airshow to discuss the Jet Zero Strategy and signed a new Jet Zero Council Members’ Charter.
About Cranfield University
Cranfield University is a specialist postgraduate university that is a global leader for education and transformational research in technology and management.