7 minute read
protecting our planet
The difficult challenge of achieving Net Zero aircraft emissions
How does Gatwick and the UK aviation sector plan to support UK climate change targets?
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Tim Norwood
Planning Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Director, Gatwick Airport
Sustainability is one of the most important issues facing society, not just aviation, and is something that must be tackled head on.
As consumers are doing across other sectors, an increasing number of passengers will look closely to see what the aviation industry is doing to reduce its environmental impact before booking, so it is vital the sector can demonstrate clear action in this area.
Gatwick has made good progress and achieved a 50% reduction of direct emissions from the airport by 2020, two years ahead of schedule. It is now aiming to achieve an 80% reduction by 2030 and ‘net zero’ before 2040, similar to targets from other major UK airports.
Achieving net zero carbon emissions from aircraft will be a more difficult challenge, however. There is no single silver bullet. A broad range of measures must be deployed and phased in over time as part of a long-term strategy that the entire industry must embrace.
Roadmap to Net Zero
It reflects how important the UK sector takes this issue that together it became the first national aviation industry anywhere in the world to give a 2050 commitment to reach net zero for aircraft emissions.
Sustainable Aviation (SA) is a UK industry coalition including airlines, airports including Gatwick - and aerospace manufacturers. Its Net Zero roadmap targets at least an overall 15% reduction in net emissions (relative to 2019 levels) by 2030, and a 40% net reduction by 2040.
The pace of decarbonisation will also ramp up as game-changing sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), permanent carbon removals, and new low and zero-carbon technologies – such as electric and hydrogen-powered aircraft – are scaled up and become mainstream.
Low and Zero carbon technologies
In the medium term, new electric, hybrid, and hydrogen engine technologies have great potential to deliver zero emissions - reflecting the recent evolution of road vehicles. It is just a small step, but last month, easyJet – which currently offsets all its fuel - and partners Wright Electric successfully tested the “most powerful electric propulsion motor of its kind”, which is part of their plans to produce a zeroemission, single-aisle aircraft.
In 2020, Airbus also revealed several zero-emission commercial aircraft concepts to enter service by 2035, including aircraft powered by hydrogen combustion capable of flying 1,000 nautical miles – perfect for short-haul trips.
Sustainable Aviation Fuels
Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) are a more immediate-term solution however and can be used in existing engines and require no modifications to aircraft or refuelling infrastructure.
Developed from sustainable feedstocks like waste oils, fats, and even solid waste like everyday household rubbish, they are ready to go – provided there is sufficient Government backing.
Independent research for SA, co-funded by Gatwick, showed that - with the right investment - 14 SAF plants could be operational in the UK by 2035, producing 4.5 million tonnes of SAF by 2050. This could contribute to a 32% reduction in UK aviation carbon by that time.
British Airways – which currently offsets its fuel for domestic flights - has set itself a 10% SAF use goal for all flights by 2030. Engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce is testing 100% SAF capable engine systems, while Boeing has said it will also deliver commercial airplanes ready to fly on 100% SAF.
Smarter flight operations – modernising airspace
Redesigning our airspace and using new navigation technology will also generate significant carbon savings from aircraft emissions by making flying more efficient - leading to less airborne holding, fewer miles flown per aircraft and less fuel burn.
The UK’s airspace infrastructure has not changed significantly since the 1950 and the major project to modernise is already underway and could be complete by the mid-2030s.
International cooperation
Aviation however is a global industry and requires global solutions to avoid simply moving emissions from one country to another.
Agreement at an international level will therefore be required to really impact on climate change, which is why the UK sector is pushing for a 2050 commitment to net-zero emissions at next year’s ICAO General Assembly - a United Nations body.
Global agreement will be key as effective market-based measures must also be developed which – alongside new carbon removal and storage technologies - can offset the remaining residual emissions.
Achieving Net Zero by 2050 is within the aviation industry’s reach, but it will require significant support from Government, major investment in new technology and cooperation at an international level.
Thermic Edge and Nuclear Fusion – The Future of Green Energy
The need for a source of renewable clean energy has never been so great.
Bob Burgess
Managing Director, Thermic Edge Ltd
Thermic Edge is an East Sussex based business, specialising in Technical Ceramics, High Purity Graphite, Vacuum Heaters, Furnaces and Heater Stages. These have applications in various specialist industries such as Semiconductors, Aerospace, Medical, and Energy.
Recently, Thermic Edge has been working closely with nuclear fusion projects with the hopes of building a brighter future for clean energy production. Their team is comprised of people coming from many industries related to UHV (Ultra High Vacuum), offering the unique skillset required to solve the complex problems that nuclear fusion presents. Members of the team have been involved for 30+ years in big fusion projects like JET in Oxford, UK and ITER in Saint-Paul-lezDurance, France. These projects involved the design and production of brazing assemblies (Titanium to Ceramic Al2 O3 insulator/breaks 30 KV to 120KV) for the gas injectors of Deuterium and Tritium into the tokamak’s chamber.
Due to a very proactive past in nuclear fusion projects and because of their wide range of products and techniques, Thermic Edge is in a strong position to be involved in present and future tokamaks worldwide.
Recently partnering with the UK Atomic Energy Authority to aid in the delivery of sustainable fusion energy, Thermic Edge now supplies fusion start-ups across the UK with specialist bespoke parts and services for their research.
The impact of this research will be felt across the world, with more and more investments demonstrating a demand for renewable alternatives to fossil fuels. The future of nuclear fusion will hugely impact the future of sustainable large-scale industry. The contributions of Thermic Edge to the tokamak nuclear research programs taking place will help to spark a revolution in research and technology for years to come.
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