The UK Government has announced it will be investing in the aviation industry to support sustainable projects led by Rolls-Royce and Vertical Aerospace.
The government is backing several zero-carbon flight technologies such as hydrogen-powered planes and flying taxis with £113m of new funding, in a bid to help unlock “guilt-free flying” and support green jobs across the country.
The joint public-private funding is being made available through the government’s Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Programme and is being shared across a number of UK-based green flight projects and developers.
Bristol-based electric aircraft manufacturer Vertical Aerospace are among those who have been given funding to develop lightweight batteries for its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and projects led by Rolls-Royce to develop a liquid hydrogen combusting jet engine.
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) said the projects would help secure thousands of jobs across the aerospace supply chain and catalyse “hundreds of millions” in private investment that place the country at the forefront of reducing global aviation emissions.
“Guilt-free flying is within our reach, and we are backing the world-leading UK firms whose skills and ingenuity are going to make that dream a reality,” said Business Secretary Grant Shapps. “As the whole world moves to greener forms of aviation, there is a massive opportunity for the UK’s aerospace industry to secure clean, green jobs and growth for decades to come. Together with the companies that share our ambitions, we are determined to seize this moment.”
The government is also consulting with the aviation sector on how to achieve zero emissions at its airport operations within England by 2040, as part of a fresh call for evidence launched today. This is designed to support the government’s Jet Zero Strategy which was launched last year.
However, the Jet Zero Strategy has faced criticism from environmental campaigners, who have argued that investment in early-stage low-carbon aviation technologies should be implemented in conjunction with efforts to reduce demand for flights.
This announcement forms part of a wider movement led by the United Nations (UN) body that struck a long-term deal with the aviation sector to hit net zero emissions by 2050. At a meeting last October in Montreal, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), declared its support for an “aspirational” net zero aviation goal by 2050.
Maritime investment
The UK government has also allocated £77m of investment in emerging clean maritime technologies to help deliver zero-emission vessels in UK waters by 2025. The funding will help to create the next generation of clean ferries, cruise liners, and cargo ships.
The Department for Transport announced the new funding programme under the banner of the Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI) competition.
The government said the funding will be awarded to maritime projects which have a long-term impact on reducing emissions from the shipping industry. Successful projects must show that they could use the money to work with major UK ports and operators to launch a zero-emission vessel by 2025, the government said.
