Aviation industry leaders as well as government officials, policy makers, innovators, energy providers and investors gathered at Farnborough this week for the second Sustainable Skies Summit, which took place from 17-18 April.
With zero emission flights within grasp, the overriding message from the summit was that the financing community has to show up, while scale and greater collaboration are vital if the industry is to achieve its net zero goals by 2050.
Jonathon Counsell, Group Head of Sustainability at International Airlines Group (IAG) described this year’s event as completely surpassing all expectations. “Attracting a wide range of inspiring speakers, sharing information and experience to help the industry on its journey towards net zero emissions by 2050, the summit has rapidly become a coveted industry event, during which many of the world’s industry leaders come together to support the delivery of truly sustainable flying,” he said.
Speeding up SAF production
During a panel session that looked at “How to make SAF happen faster,” Jimmy Samartzis, LanzaJet’s CEO said: “We are at a tipping point and the pieces of the puzzle are now coming together. Technology is being deployed at commercial scale, there are seven technology pathways for producing SAF, policies are falling into place, corporates are stepping in and customers are requesting SAF.”
With five refinery plants under construction in the UK and expected to be complete by 2025 finance is now the big challenge. IAG’s CEO Luis Gallego and IATA’s Director General Willie Walsh underlined that more plants are needed if the UK is to meet its commitment of at least 10% of jet fuel being made from sustainable feedstocks by 2030.
While the 2050 goal for net zero is a good start, Walsh also remarked that “milestones are needed along the way, as there isn’t one single route to achieving that goal.” Multiple pathways and feedstocks need to be explored and stakeholders need to be incentivised.
He added that while CORSIA was a good first step and demonstrated you can have global alignment for a decarbonisation roadmap, incentivisation is key as “the stick has now failed and the carrot is the way forward.”
Sustainable infrastructure
Airports also have a key role to play in decarbonising the sector with David Hyde, World Economic Forum’s (WEF’s) Alternative Propulsion and Advanced Air Mobility Lead, remarking that while it is a way off before we see electric and hydrogen powered aircraft being deployed on a commercial scale, airports need to be thinking now about the infrastructure changes that are required for next-generation aircraft.
“SAF doesn’t require any changes to airport or aircraft infrastructure, but hydrogen and electric powered aircraft will. Airports need to think and plan now for what future fuelling requirements look like,” said Hyde.
Alexandre de Joybert, ACI Europe’s Director of Sustainbility agreed. “SAF is the current buzzword, but look beyond that. Green hydrogen will require adaptations for infrastructure which will mean greater planning and investment.”
Meanwhile, Manchester Airport Group’s (MAG) Head of ESG & Environmental Strategy, Adam Freeman, reiterated a point that was made throughout by various panellists that “collaboration is vital in terms of building relationships that will deliver policy and infrastructure.”
Hyde chimed in saying that “Airports can’t act alone. There has to be cooperation with government and policymakers. After all, there’s no point in having electric and hydrogen power supplies at one airport, if it’s not available at the destination hub.”
And Joybert reinforced this point further saying: “We estimate it will cost €18 billion for the infrastructure upgrades required to make EU airports net zero by 2050. The public sector will have to intervene at some point if we are to meet that goal.”
Challenges of certification
While aviation is renowned and valued as an industry that places safety at its core, the certification of processes and new technologies was also referenced as being a hindrance to achieving the industry’s decarbonisation goals.
“We are moving aircraft on the ground the same way we did in 1060,” said Isaiah Cox, Wheeltug’s CEO. “The certification process is rigorous. The amount of energy and work it takes to get an existing product is enormous. Talk about a new project or technology and you’re looking at decades to get approval.”
Jet Zero milestones
Responding to the need to have clear milestones to achieve net zero, UK Ministers and aviation chiefs used the summit to reveal an action plan for the next two years in the race to reach Jet Zero by 2050. The Jet Zero Council has now committed to speed up the design, manufacture and roll-out of zero emission aircraft and vital infrastructure at UK airports. With plans to decarbonise faster than any other G7 country, the UK Government’s plan also sets out how the Council will help accelerate the production of SAF, by continuing to invest millions of pounds in first-of-a-kind SAF plants to help increase production and drive down costs.
Addressing the audience, RT Hon Mark Harper MP, Secretary of State for Transport, UK said: “We have a clear plan to maximise jobs and invest in the green economy. It’s not about aviation declining, it’s about flying differently by aircraft powered by cleaner sources of power and modernising our airports and airspace.” He added that the government would like to see all airport operations being zero emissions by 2040 with a call issued earlier this year for view on how feasible that was. “It’s vital that airports keep pace with the incredible pace of innovation in aircraft propulsion.”
Reiterating the need for wider collaboration Harper commended aviation’s single mindedness to move to a more sustainable model. “However it is now a race against time. We need to set aviation up for sucess and continue harnessing enormous social and economic benefits,” he concluded.
To mark this year’s Sustainable Skies World Summit, an RAF Voyager – an Airbus A330-derived Military Passenger and Air-to-Air refuelling aircraft powered by a 43% SAF blend provided in collaboration with IAG and Air bp, conducted an air-to-air refuelling sortie to supplying SAF blend to other RAF aircraft.
The flight flew the pre-scheduled fuelling operation over the North Sea prior to flying over Farnborough Airport.
