This week Business West joined a number of aviation and aerospace industry leaders from across the South West including Rolls Royce, Airbus, easyJet, GKN, Atkins, Vertical Aerospace, Universal Hydrogen, Wood and Bristol Airport to discuss how they would work together to support the sector’s transition to net zero and set out joint commitments for the coming years.
It is urgent that all sectors and industry including aviation and aerospace decarbonise to limit the impact of climate change and to meet UK Climate targets to reduce emissions by 78% by 2035, a target that now includes international aviation and shipping.
Aviation is responsible for 2% of global green house gas emissions and demand for flights post covid is anticipated to grow. Reducing emissions is major challenge due to its reliance on oil-based fuels, the impact of combustion at altitude and the impact of contrails.
There are a number of clean aviation projects underway in the South West working on this challenge.
- Atkins is leading a consortium which is exploring the feasibility of air taxi services in the South West using eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft. Which offer lower carbon flights in some scenarios.
- GKN is leading on the H2GEAR project and is developing a liquid hydrogen-propulsion system for aircraft that would eliminate CO2 emissions and leave water as the only by-product of flight. If successful, the aerospace firm said it could help secure up to 3,120 high-value engineering and manufacturing jobs by 2032-2033 in Bristol, Coventry and Loughborough.
- Airbus is developing Zero E concept aircraft and expects to have commercial flights by 2035
The sector, through Sustainable Aviation has made a commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, through an international approach, working with governments around the world and through the UN. Their Road Map accommodates a 70% growth in passengers by 2050 whilst reducing net carbon emissions levels from just over 30 million tonnes of CO2 per year down to zero through smarter flight operations, new aircraft and engine technology, modernising our airspace, the use of sustainable aviation fuels and significant investment in carbon reductions through smart market-based policy measures.
Following the event, the participants released a joint statement: “We are committed to working together to drive the development and adoption of zero emissions technologies across the whole aerospace and aviation industry in the South West and beyond. This will involve cross-sector collaboration and innovation that will help deliver the UK’s sustainable aviation ambitions and enable the UK to build back better from the pandemic, driving recovery and job creation across the region and the country.”
Emma Gilthorpe, CEO of the Jet Zero Council said: “I welcome today’s roundtable discussion between many of the leading voices within the South West's aviation and aerospace industry, and I am greatly encouraged by their joint commitment to support the decarbonisation of our sector. Collaborative regional planning such as this will ensure our industry harnesses it's collective capabilities and maintains the benefits of flying for future generations, whilst also establishing a credible pathway to net-zero emissions.”
Phil Smith, MD Business West said: “It is essential that the aviation and aerospace sectors decarbonise, and do so fast to limit the worst impacts of Climate Change. I am encouraged by the commitment made by the sector in our region and that this is leading to investment, innovation and job creation. Every sector will need to go on this journey and high emitting sectors like aviation have a huge challenge ahead. We must make sure that the scale and pace of decarbonisation meets the climate crisis.”
Business West published it Climate Crisis statement in 2019 and is on a journey to reach Net Zero by 2030. It is working with its members and regional stakeholders to find solutions to accelerate business and the region’s journey to Net Zero.
- Log in to post comments