Gallery-Industry Making Progress in Sustainability Developments

Germany’s H2Fly has tested the filling procedure for the liquid hydrogen (LH2) tank in its HY4 test aircraft, keeping the project on track to make the first flight by a hydrogen-electric-powered aircraft using the cryogenic fuel. The HY4 is planned to begin flight tests using liquid hydrogen and fuel cells in June.
 

Universal Hydrogen is making progress in the development of its hydrogen conversion kit for the ATR 72-600 regional turboprop, in line with an ambitious schedule that calls for entry into service in 2025. The work is taking place at Universal Hydrogen Europe’s design and test facilities in Toulouse.
 

Alaska Airlines has an agreement with Shell Aviation to expand the SAF market and support by bringing SAF to more markets, in greater quantities and at a more sustainable long-term cost. Shell Aviation will also supply up to 10 million gallons of neat SAF to Alaska Airlines’ Los Angeles hub. 
 

Cathay Pacific has agreed to support the development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production in Mainland China, as part of the carrier’s broader SAF efforts. The Hong Kong-based carrier signed an MOU with State Power Investment Corp. (SPIC), a mainland China-based energy company. SPIC plans to commission four SAF plants during 2024-2026, each with a capability of producing 50,000-100,000 tons of SAF annually. Cathay will help by providing its expertise in the use of SAF by airlines, as well as advising on issues such as the certification of the fuel. 
 

All Nippon Airways (ANA) plans to acquire SAF blended in Japan, which will be used for both its domestic and international flights. This is the first time the carrier is able to uptake SAF in Japan, despite already doing so in foreign stations such as San Francisco. The blended SAF is supplied from an initiative from the Civil Aviation Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
 

Swedish startup Heart Aerospace is collaborating with BAE Systems to define the battery system for its ES-30 regional airliner, the first Part 25 transport-category electric aircraft. 

The 30-seat ES-30 is planned to enter service in 2028. Customers include United Airlines. The ES-30 will have a 5,000-kg (11,000-lb.) battery housed in a large fairing under the fuselage. Powering four electric motors, the battery is designed to provide the pressurized aircraft an all-electric range of 200 km (125 mi.), increasing to 400 km using a turbine-based hybrid-electric reserve system.
 

British/American hydrogen-electric aircraft developer ZeroAvia has a four-party agreement to develop commercial routes using its hydrogen-electric powertrain systems on routes from Skellefteå Airport in Northeast Sweden. As part of the agreement, ZeroAvia will work with the airport, the municipal energy company Skellefteå Kraft and Braathens Regional Airlines to demonstrate flights and explore launching commercial operations.

Braathens Regional Airlines, one of the largest domestic operators in Sweden, plans to provide aircraft for future demonstrations and to explore commercial routes. 
 

LanzaJet has partnered with Jet Zero Australia to start planning work on what could be Australia’s first sustainable aviation fuel plant in Queensland. Qantas Group and Airbus will jointly invest A$2 million ($1.35 million) in early-stage project capital as part of their A$200 million Australian Sustainable Aviation Fuel Partnership launched in June 2022. 
 

United Airlines invested in Canadian carbon capture technology startup Svante. Part of Vancouver, British Columbia-based Svante’s Series E funding round, the $5 million investment comes from United Airlines Ventures’ $100 million-plus Sustainable Flight Fund, which is also backed by GE Aerospace, Honeywell and others.
 

Finnair is increasing the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as part of its goal to reduce carbon emissions from flying. The Nordic airline has bought 750 tonnes of SAF from its partner, Neste, for use on flights departing from Helsinki Airport. It represents Finnair's largest single batch of SAF purchased to date and is part of the airline’s ongoing commitment to combat climate change. The SAF will be delivered by Neste to Helsinki Airport in early 2023, with the 750 tons corresponding to approximately 400 flights between Helsinki and Stockholm using unblended, 100% SAF.
 

Air Greenland flights servicing the route between Søndre Strømfjord/Kangerlussuaq and Copenhagen Airport will use sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This is the result of a new SAF supply agreement between Air Greenland, DCC & Shell Aviation Denmark.

The agreement with DCC & Shell Aviation Denmark means that SAF will constitute approximately five per cent of fuel consumption along the route to and from Copenhagen in 2023, currently higher than any other flight route in Denmark. With this development, Air Greenland is introducing SAF into its flight operations ahead of the forthcoming European Union mandates, at a higher level than they will initially require, on a voluntary basis.
 

New York-based JetBlue Airways and Shell Aviation have a new collaboration bringing additional supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), targeting delivery to begin in the first half of 2023. Within the terms of the agreement, JetBlue is expected to take delivery of 10,000,000 gallons of blended SAF at LAX over the next two years and an option to purchase up to 5,000,000 gallons more in the third year, either at LAX or other airports in JetBlue’s network.