UK Government Invests Over £100m in Green Aerospace R&D for Sustainable Aviation
The new Labour government has announced over £100m in funding to support innovative projects aimed at reducing emissions in the aviation industry. At the 2024 Farnborough Airshow, Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds revealed that just under £103m would be allocated through the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) programme to support five green aerospace R&D initiatives.
The funding recipients include GKN Aerospace, Queens University, Rolls-Royce, Short Brothers, and ZeroAvia. "Our world-class aerospace sector added almost £40bn to the economy last year," said Reynolds. "By backing it to pioneer cutting-edge new technologies, we're delivering economic growth and supporting high-skilled jobs across the UK."
ATI CEO Gary Elliott emphasized the importance of investing in advanced technologies for sustainable aviation, such as new lightweight materials and fuel systems. "The projects announced today take us a significant step closer to sustainable aviation," he added.
Notable projects receiving funding include Rolls-Royce's HOTLINE project, ZeroAvia's AFCAD project, and GKN Aerospace’s H2FlyGHT hydrogen fuel initiative. Additionally, Queens University Belfast will develop new lightweight composite materials, while Short Brothers will focus on reducing material usage in aircraft design.
This R&D boost follows the government's announcement of a new Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Bill to incentivize low-carbon fuel production. It also aligns with the Climate Change Committee's recent report urging increased efforts to curb aviation emissions to meet 2030s targets.
In related news, Rolls-Royce and easyJet have begun constructing a unique engine test site at NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi for full-scale hydrogen testing on a modified Rolls-Royce Pearl 15 engine. This collaboration aims to advance hydrogen as a viable alternative fuel for aviation.