Page 12 - BPW-UK - E-news - Edition 120 - March-April 2024
P. 12
THE FUTURE OF GREEN AVIATION
The world is turning green, but the environment is just one of the challenges currently facing aviation
alongside the demand for mobility, oil prices and availability, maintaining customer value and making
profits. These targets are not all compatible. The sources of man-made CO2 are comprised of: 42%
power generation, 24% manufacturing, construction and industry,18% road transport,9% residential
and services,4% maritime and rail transport, 2% air transport. Air transport’s percentage share is
likely to grow between now and 2050, as aviation expanded and other activities producing CO2 be-
came more efficient. The UK is setting an example of the ambition needed to tackle climate change,
and the Jet Zero strategy provides a clear path to building a greener aviation sector for generations to
come. The strategy commits UK domestic aviation to achieving net zero emissions by 2040, and for
all airports in England to be zero-emission by the same year.
The six priority areas set out in the strategy are:
1. Improving the efficiency of our existing aviation system, from aircraft to airports and airspace. For
example, we will improve fuel efficiency by 2% every year and are providing a further £3.7 million in
2022 to 2023 to support airports to modernise their airspace.
2. Increasing support for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), by creating secure and grow-
ing UK SAF demand through a SAF mandate that will require at least 10% of jet fuel to be made from
sustainable sources by 2030 and kickstarting a domestic SAF industry, supported by the new £165
million Advanced Fuels Fund.
3. Supporting the development of zero-emission aircraft, with the aspiration of having zero-emission
routes connecting places across the UK by 2030.
4. Developing carbon markets and greenhouse gas removal technologies to drive decarbonisation and
offset any residual emissions, including by enhancing the UK Emission Trade Scheme (UK ETS).
5. Providing consumers with better information so they can make sustainable aviation choices. We
will publish a call for evidence on our proposal to provide consumers with environmental information
at the time of booking air travel in autumn 2022.
6. Increasing our understanding of the non-CO2 impacts of aviation, such as contrails and nitrogen
oxides. The effects of these remain uncertain so we will work closely with academia and industry to
monitor global developments in this area, increase our understanding, potential mitigations and ex-
plore a means of tracking these emissions.
Discussing the future of green aviation at BPW UK National conference
on 16 March 2024 were Jacqueline Castle Chief Technology Officer
Aerospace Technology Institute who spoke about strategies and funding
needed to ensure UK aerospace remains at the forefront of global aero-
space and securely on the path to a sustainable future;
Alison Green Head of Structures Vertical Aerospace Ltd who
reflected on the activities, progress and failures, of the UK start-up spe-
cialising in eVTOL, electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, which is
undergoing flight testing;
Dr Chris Toomer, Associate Professor in CFD/Aerospace University of the West of England who en-
lightened us about the future of aviation design, fuel, hypersonics and flight times.
The speakers were knowledgeable, experts in their fields, charismatic and inspirational. In their vari-
ous roles they will all contribute to Jet Zero and beyond. These very capable women represent the
calibre of speaker BPW UK attracts and what a privilege to have had them contribute to our event.
Women flying high indeed.
Lynne Robinson – VP International https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHsrGC6ZvwA