The partners in a project to convert the Cessna Caravan to electric propulsion have formed a new company to develop and offer battery-electric and hydrogen-electric powertrain retrofits for a range of turboprop commuter aircraft.
Europe’s airlines have given a mixed response to the European Council’s approval of reforms to the region’s Emissions Trading System (ETS), welcoming sustainable aviation fuel allowances but sounding the alarm over the early phaseout of free carbon allowances.
The facility at the Sinopec Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Co. near Ningpo, Zhejiang Province, is designed to manufacture 100,000 metric tons of unblended biofuel annually, and the state-owned company says its refinery will pave the way toward large-scale production.
No fast lane is in sight for the introduction of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) in significant quantities, as producers still have to cope with complex processes and high costs, French oil giant TotalEnergies says.
Yet many of those companies are small- and medium-size businesses and finding the time and money is a serious hurdle for them, industry observers warn.
The European Parliament’s Transport Committee has approved legislation that includes a more ambitious sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) mandate than one originally proposed by the European Commission’s “Fit for 55” climate package.
IATA says SAF production needs to increase from roughly 100 million liters (26.4 million gal.) annually in 2021 to 449 billion liters (119 billion gal.) to meet the industry’s goal of net zero carbon emissions.
Airbus has partnered with energy supplier Uniper, Siemens Energy and sustainable fuels company Sasol EcoFT to launch the Green Fuels Hamburg project to produce power-to-liquid synthetic e-kerosene on a commercial scale in Germany.
The European Commission (EC) has launched the Alliance for Zero Emission Aviation to prepare the aviation ecosystem for the entry into service of electric- and hydrogen-powered aircraft that will contribute to Europe’s goal to be climate neutral by 2050.
Airbus and global industrial gases and engineering company Linde are broadening their cooperation agreement to study the logistics aspects of hydrogen use in aviation.
MTU Aero Engines says it has identified a Flying Fuel Cell (FFC) and Water Enhanced Turbofan (WET) as “favored” concepts for revolutionary reductions in emissions from aircraft propulsion systems.
As Europe’s Clean Sky 2 research and technology project is nearing the end, Airbus and industry partners are expected to complete the construction of their multifunction fuselage demonstrator, aiming at lower cost and weight and fast-paced manufacturing.
