UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced plans for a competition to help the aviation industry achieve a net zero emissions flight.
The competition makes £1 million of funding available to support testing and research costs for the flight. It is open to companies across the aviation industry including fuel producers, airlines and other suppliers.
The flight will be made using 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which is made from renewable biomass and waste resources. SAF produces a fraction on the greenhouse gas emissions of conventional petroleum jet fuel.
The global aviation industry is responsible for 2.1% of all CO2 emissions. SAF can reduce aviation emissions by more than 70%. “This trailblazing net-zero emissions flight, a world first, will demonstrate the vital role that sustainable aviation fuel can play in decarbonising aviation in line with our ambitious net-zero targets,” Grant Shapps said.
The UK government is making further investment in SAF with the Treasury announcing £180 million to support the creation of new UK SAF plants. The first plant is scheduled to be completed by 2025. A target of 10% SAF for commercial UK flights by 2030 has also been set.
With government support some estimates expect the UK SAF industry could have annual turnover of £2.3 billion by 2040.
Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK said about the government’s announcement “UK airlines strongly support the development of a UK SAF industry, which will play a vital role in helping our sector deliver net-zero emissions by 2050, as we are committed to doing.”
