Transport Secretary and Business Secretary have today set out a new
group of aviation experts across industry and government who will
work together to make zero emission flight a reality.
As world leaders in aviation decarbonisation, the new Zero
Emission Flight (ZEF) Delivery Group, will further Britain’s role
in the global effort to end flight emissions.
Launched at the fifth meeting of the Jet Zero Council, the new
steering group will help position the UK at the forefront of the
global shift to green aviation by supporting the development of
zero emission aircraft and airport infrastructure. It will also
look at how the law needs to adapt so that sustainable flying can
truly become a reality.
The new group will sit under the Jet Zero Council – an advisory
forum with experts from across the industry – and will focus
specifically on the technology, infrastructure and regulation
needed to make zero emission flight a reality.
Speaking at the fifth Jet Zero Council meeting today, the
Transport Secretary, said:
“From the first jet engine created here in the
UK, Britain is truly a world-leader in flying. Now we are
determined to revolutionise flying and we want to see everyone
have the opportunity to travel guilt-free.
“We are determined to bring forward the flight technology of the
future, and through our new Zero Emission Flight Delivery Group,
we will help create thousands of jobs around the country and take
another step toward zero emission flights.”
The new group will be led by aviation expert Rachel
Gardner-Poole, who joins with over 20 years of experience in
military and commercial aviation, both in the public and private
sector. Currently the Chief Operating Officer for the Connected
Places Catapult, Rachel has previously worked at the Civil
Aviation Authority, the UK Space Agency and IBM.
Under Rachel’s leadership, the ZEF Delivery Group will build on
the progress made through the Aerospace Technology Institute’s
(ATI) FlyZero project and the
Department for Transport’s Zero Emission Flight
Infrastructure project.
Zero Emission Flight Delivery Group Chair, Rachel
Gardner-Poole:
“It is a great privilege to be asked to be the Chair of the
ZEF Delivery Group and I am committed to the critical work ahead
to make zero emission aviation a reality.
"I am passionate about using innovation and technology to create
a positive impact on our planet and look forward to collectively
addressing the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead of
us.”
The Government is investing in Aerospace R&D through the
Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Programme and £685m will be
provided over the next three years, which was announced in March
by the Business Secretary.
In addition, Government is providing £125m (matched by £175m from
industry) of support for Innovate UK’s Future Flight Challenge.
The Challenge will shortly announce projects successful in its
third funding competition including those advancing electric
flight technologies that will support the operation of
sub-regional aircraft and the UK in reaching its net zero target.
Contact Information
Joseph Brookes
joseph.brookes@dft.gov.uk
Notes to editors
- The ZEF Delivery Group will complement the existing Jet Zero
Council structure and will sit alongside the Sustainable Aviation
Fuels Delivery Group.
- The purpose of the ZEF Delivery Group is to put the UK in a
leading position in the race to achieve zero emission flight,
supporting the JZC to deliver on its objectives to:
- Accelerate the design, manufacture, testing, certification,
infrastructure, and commercial operation of zero emission
aircraft and aviation systems in the UK through sustained
investment in applied research and development (R&D) and
fostering greater collaboration across sectors.
- Support grassroots innovation in these areas and make the UK
the best place in the world to develop new aviation
technology.
- Challenge existing approaches by involving disruptors and
innovators in the dialogue.
- As a group, the Jet Zero Council members have made
significant achievements on ZEF, including, Rolls-Royce’s Spirit
of Innovation which is the world’s fastest all-electric
aircraft
- ZeroAvia secured further private investment and moved closer
to achieving commercialisation for its hydrogen propulsion
technology by 2024
- easyJet has entered into a partnership with Cranfield
Aerospace Solutions to support the development of its hydrogen
fuel cell propulsion system
- Airbus launched its ZERO demonstrator to support its aims to
develop the world’s first zero-emission commercial aircraft by
2035.
- And the FlyZero project also concluded in March this year,
setting out the potential for liquid hydrogen to be used for
future zero emission commercial aircraft.
