- £15 million Green Fuels, Green Skies competition to turn
materials such as everyday waste into sustainable aviation fuel
- new chief executive officer (CEO) attends second Jet Zero
Council meeting to help drive progress on decarbonisation
- £2.4 million awarded to pioneering project electrifying
regional links in the South West
Net zero-emission aviation is one step closer today (16 March
2021) following the launch of a new competition to support the
development of cutting-edge facilities capable of turning
everyday waste into jet fuel.
The Green Fuel, Green Skies
competition, which is part of the Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan, will
support UK companies as they pioneer new technologies to convert
household rubbish, waste wood and excess electricity into
sustainable aviation fuel.
Offering emissions savings of more than 70% compared to
conventional jet fuel, these trailblazing projects will help put
flying onto a more sustainable path while helping to create up to
11,500 jobs over the coming decades.
Companies will be able to bid for a share of £15 million to
kickstart the development of first-of-a-kind production plants in
the UK to produce these fuels at scale.
This comes as the government’s second Jet Zero Council meeting is
attended by new CEO
Emma Gilthorpe, chief operating officer at Heathrow Airport.
Promoting the vision of the group, Emma will increase its reach
with key stakeholders across the sector helping drive forward
decarbonisation of aviation.
Joining the distinguished roster of industry and environmental
experts, new additions from the Royal Air Force (RAF) and Civil
Aviation Authority (CAA) will bring a breadth of knowledge and
experience to the council, energising the charge to reduce
emissions and deliver clean growth in the sector.
Transport Secretary, , said:
As the aviation sector emerges out of the pandemic and looks
towards recovery over the coming months, we must put our
environmental commitments at the centre of everything we do –
so not only do we build back better, we also build back
greener.
That’s why we’re stepping up our work on the Council,
recruiting new members and launching pioneering efforts to
ensure that we continue to lead the world by example and
deliver on our ambitious net-zero targets.
Business Secretary, , said:
Today’s meeting of the Jet Zero Council demonstrates the vital
collaboration between government and industry that will make
zero-emission flights a reality.
Britain’s aerospace sector is at the centre of our plans to
build back greener from the pandemic. We are committed to
supporting its recovery and investing in green tech to take us
closer to zero carbon take-off.
Through the Future Flight
Challenge, the government has committed £125 million of
funding over 4 years. This has been matched by £175 million from
industry to develop greener ways to fly, such as all-electric
aircraft and deliveries by drone, by advancing electric and
autonomous flight technologies.
Just this week, Project 2ZERO announced plans to use its share of
£2.4 million through this fund to demonstrate flights of 6- and
19-seat hybrid-electric planes.
The project will demonstrate the use of electric and hybrid
aircraft on regional routes, showing the potential to decarbonise
aviation while supporting regional connectivity.
The government has put in place one of the most comprehensive
packages of business support in the world, pledging around £7
billion since the start of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
