- Major new research into mass production of sustainable
aviation fuel is set to get underway
- British technology could have the potential to eliminate use
of fossil fuels in military aircraft
- New fuel could increase resilience and boost RAF’s Net Zero
goal
The research, carried out by the RAF in partnership with British
firm Zero Petroleum, and focussed on using synthetic fuel
technology, was announced today at the Farnborough International
Airshow.
It will provide crucial data to evidence the scalability and
efficiency of the synthetic technology, which has the potential
to revolutionise the RAF’s fuel while ensuring its capability
remains cutting edge.
The Royal Air Force, having flown a world-record first 100%
synthetic flight in November 2021, will move to the next phase
producing more fuel for certification and testing. Design
blueprints from this research will enable construction of
squadron-scale fuel manufacturing capability as a next stage.
Synthetic fuels are believed to burn more cleanly and
consistently than fossil fuels – that theory will form part of
the testing in this phase. Fuel manufactured using this
technology could eliminate fossil carbon emissions in flight,
lessen the RAF’s reliance on global supply chains, and improve
operational resilience through reducing the necessity for fuel
resupplying.
Defence Minister said:
The creativity and ingenuity of the RAF and UK industry, backed
by our ring-fenced research and development funding, has resulted
in ground-breaking new fuel technology.
It has the potential to improve operational resilience while
eliminating fossil carbon emissions in flight.
In November 2021 the Ikarus C42 microlight aircraft, which was on
display at Farnborough today, completed a short UK flight,
powered by 15 litres of whole-blend synthetic gasoline. Whilst
green technologies like electric and hydrogen power generation
are viable for many RAF platforms, high-performance aircraft for
example fast jets require a liquid fuel alternative to maintain
operational capabilities.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike
Wigston said:
This ground-breaking collaboration with Zero Petroleum is a
glimpse of the future for aviation fuel. It points to how we will
crack the NetZero challenge as a national and international
endeavour, and the leading role the Royal Air Force and UK
science and technology can play in that.
Zero Petroleum’s synthetic fuel is manufactured by extracting
hydrogen from water and carbon from atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Using energy generated from renewable sources like wind or solar,
these are combined to create the ‘drop-in’ synthetic fuel.
Paddy Lowe, founder of Zero Petroleum, said:
The RAF’s vision for fossil-free flight using synthetic fuels is
matched by Zero Petroleum’s commitment and enthusiasm to deliver
the solution using unique British technology. Together we showed
what was possible with our record-breaking demonstration flight
in 2021.
We are incredibly excited to start now on the important
development of this technology to production-readiness in advance
of deployment at scale to flight operations. We could not wish
for a better partner than the RAF which has been a pioneer
throughout its 100+ years of existence.
The revolutionary breakthrough underscores the MOD’s
solution-based approach to addressing climate change issues
whilst meeting operational commitments and remaining agile in a
world of evolving threats. It also supports ambitions laid out in
the Defence
Command Paper and is backed by the £24 billion defence
settlement, including a £6.6 billion R&D investment.
The sustainable aviation fuel could mark a step-change towards
the RAF’s goal to be Net Zero by 2040. Working towards the
Government’s Net Zero by 2050 goal, the RAF also plans for their
first Net Zero airbase by 2025.
