Gallery: Latest Sustainability Programs Aim For Net-Zero Targets

Universal Hydrogen (UH2) received an FAA Experimental Airworthiness Certificate for its De Havilland Canada Dash 8-300 flying test bed, paving the way for its first flight equipped with a megawatt-scale hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system.

The 1-megawatt powertrain demonstrator is installed in a modified nacelle with large air intakes on both sides to cool the Plug Power-supplied fuel cells and MagniX-supplied electric motor. As a first product, Universal Hydrogen (UH2) is developing a 2-megawatt power train for retrofitting the ATR 72-600 regional airliner. Work is underway in Toulouse on the ATR conversion.

Airbus has deepened its engagement with Air New Zealand in the field of hydrogen-powered aviation by forming a consortium to evaluate options for deploying hydrogen hubs at airports, starting with a case study in Christchurch. Partners include Christchurch International Airport, renewable energy company Fortescue Future Industries, hydrogen fueling infrastructure provider Hiringa Energy and hydrogen liquefaction and storage specialist Fabrum.

Airbus is one of five manufacturers and start-ups working with Air New Zealand on its Mission Next Gen Aircraft plan to replace its domestic fleet of De Havilland Canada Dash 8-Q300 turboprops with more sustainable aircraft by 2030.

The consortium will work together to understand the concepts and operations of hydrogen-powered aircraft, hydrogen supply, infrastructure and refueling needs at airports to support the development of a hydrogen aviation ecosystem in New Zealand.

Airbus will contribute insights on aircraft features and operational concepts from its ZEROe initiative to develop technologies for a liquid hydrogen-powered airliner that could enter service in 2035.

California-based electric aircraft developer Ampaire and Azul Conecta, the regional subsidy company of Brazil’s LCC Azul, signed a memorandum of understanding for six upgrade kits to retrofit Cessna Grand Caravans with hybrid-electric propulsion systems. Azul Conecta operates a fleet of 24 caravans to more than 84 destinations across Brazil. Azul Conecta and Ampaire also announced plans to work together to develop charging infrastructure at Conecta’s eight bases and at other airports they serve, which they say could potentially be ordered to other Eco Caravan operators across South America. Ampaire is targeting FAA Supplemental Type Certification in 2024 and expects the Eco Caravan to be the first electrified regional aircraft to enter commercial service. The company’s first prototype made its maiden flight in November 2022, although the aircraft is not yet in final certification configuration.

Pratt & Whitney Canada and ATR will work together to achieve 100 percent SAF readiness of PW127 Series engines by 2025, including the new PW127XT. The collaboration will continue through 2023 and 2024 and builds on ATR’s recent 100% SAF test flight with Braathens Regional Airlines.

Alaska Airlines has completed the transition to using paper cups for inflight beverages, a move that eliminates more than 55 million plastic cups annually and replaces them with a greener alternative. Combined with Alaska’s Boxed Water partnership, these changes will eliminate 2.2 million pounds of plastic waste from landfills each year, equivalent to the weight of 24 Boeing 737s. All inflight beverages on flights to Alaska are now served in FSC-certified paper cups or reusable glassware for most first class services.

Teesside Airport in Darlington is the first UK airport to partner with Air France-KLM’s program to encourage the use of SAF, which currently accounts for less than 1% of fuel burn on commercial flights. This new program allows the airline to work with organizations and companies such as Teesside Airport to accelerate the production, deployment and use of SAF, which diversifies from traditional fuels and reduces the carbon footprint of air travel.

The scheme also supports Teesside’s own plans to ensure the airport’s buildings and infrastructure reach net-zero before the decade is out. A new net-zero strategy for the region also details how the airport plans to use SAF to achieve net-zero flights by 2035.

The Australian Government awarded start-up Dovetail Electric Aviation a AUD$3 million (US$2.1 million) grant to support the development of technology to convert turbine-powered regional aircraft to electric propulsion. The government grant will support a A$12.8 million project running through the end of March 2025 to develop, test and certify electric propulsion conversion, initially in the Cessna Caravan. The conversion aims to eliminate emissions and reduce operating costs by up to 40%.

Indian energy company and aviation fuel maker IndianOil signed a memorandum of understanding with Illinois-based SAF technology company LanzaJet to explore the development of SAF production in India. The partnership will pursue large-scale production in India using LanzaJet’s Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) process, which converts ethanol from waste sources into SAF. LanzaJet’s first ATJ facility is scheduled to start up in the United States this year. LanzaJet and IndianOil are working to expand the partnership with a joint venture in India to deploy ATJ technology. As a country, India has committed to net-zero emissions by 2070, but its airlines have committed to the airline industry’s goal of net-zero by 2050.

The Lufthansa Group has signed a letter of intent with the European energy company Varo for the production and delivery of SAF. Varo plans to produce 86 million gallons. per year beginning in 2026 with a long-term goal of 165 million gallons. yearly. The companies plan to scale up the production of green hydrogen from biogenic raw materials such as sewage sludge. Synthetic kerosene, e-fuel for short, could then be produced from the hydrogen using the power-to-liquid (PtL) process favored by European airlines.

PtL production is still in its infancy. The Lufthansa Group is a partner and pilot customer of one of the first PtL plants, which opened in October 2021 in Wertle, Germany. The airline plans to purchase 6,600 gallons. by SAF over five years from the facility, which is operated by the non-profit organization Atmosfair.

SAF manufacturers worldwide when capacities are expected to go online in 2025. Darling Ingredients and Valero Energy have made the final investment decision for the $315 million project at the Port Arthur, Texas facility owned and operated by their joint venture Diamond Green Energy (DGD). Upon completion of the project, DGD’s Port Arthur facility will have the capacity to upgrade approximately 50% of its 470 million gallons. annual renewable fuel production capacity to SAF.