Research output per year
Research output per year
Abstract / Description of output
Airport and airfield infrastructure must rapidly evolve to enable net zero aviation and ensure the UK leads in zero emission aviation systems. Widespread adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel, hydrogen-powered and battery electric aircraft is critical to achieving the UK’s goal of reaching net zero in aviation by 2050. These aircraft are expected to be operational in this decade. Planning the airport and airfield infrastructure for our net zero future must start now.
This mixed economy with electric and hydrogen-powered aviation operating alongside kerosene, jet fuels (of various types) and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) will increase the complexity of airport and airfield operations. New technologies will work in parallel, replacing the mature aviation fuel infrastructure over time. This parallel operation will require multiple infrastructures, policies, procedures and teams to coexist.
The Zero Emission Flight Infrastructure (ZEFI) programme, commissioned by the Department for Transport, is bringing together government, industry, regulators and academia to understand better the infrastructure changes required at airports and airfields to prepare for hydrogen-powered and battery electric aircraft.
This work is part of the Government’s commitment in the Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution to invest in Research and Development (R&D) on the infrastructure upgrades required at UK airports to transition to hydrogen-powered and battery electric aircraft. General Aviation (GA) airfields, medium-sized regional and major commercial airports will need to service different aircraft technologies. ZEFI examines the resulting variety of infrastructure requirements.
The introduction of new infrastructure to prepare for net zero aviation presents challenges for airport and airfield operators, including:
• significant timescales from conception to operation of new airport and airfield infrastructure compared with the urgency to achieve net zero.
• various maturities of aircraft and infrastructure technologies and their interdependencies.
• construction and operation of new infrastructure while operating and maintaining existing infrastructure.
• funding in a challenging operating environment.
• few available standards, policies, procedures and training for the new infrastructure.
This mixed economy with electric and hydrogen-powered aviation operating alongside kerosene, jet fuels (of various types) and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) will increase the complexity of airport and airfield operations. New technologies will work in parallel, replacing the mature aviation fuel infrastructure over time. This parallel operation will require multiple infrastructures, policies, procedures and teams to coexist.
The Zero Emission Flight Infrastructure (ZEFI) programme, commissioned by the Department for Transport, is bringing together government, industry, regulators and academia to understand better the infrastructure changes required at airports and airfields to prepare for hydrogen-powered and battery electric aircraft.
This work is part of the Government’s commitment in the Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution to invest in Research and Development (R&D) on the infrastructure upgrades required at UK airports to transition to hydrogen-powered and battery electric aircraft. General Aviation (GA) airfields, medium-sized regional and major commercial airports will need to service different aircraft technologies. ZEFI examines the resulting variety of infrastructure requirements.
The introduction of new infrastructure to prepare for net zero aviation presents challenges for airport and airfield operators, including:
• significant timescales from conception to operation of new airport and airfield infrastructure compared with the urgency to achieve net zero.
• various maturities of aircraft and infrastructure technologies and their interdependencies.
• construction and operation of new infrastructure while operating and maintaining existing infrastructure.
• funding in a challenging operating environment.
• few available standards, policies, procedures and training for the new infrastructure.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Connected Places Catapult |
| Number of pages | 90 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 21 Mar 2022 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Publication series
| Name | Connected Places Catapult |
|---|
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Blueprint for Zero Emission Flight Infrastructure'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Research output
- 1 Commissioned report
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Zero Emission Flight Infrastructure White Paper
Kerby, T., Chamberlain, L., Levermore, T., Zemaitis, D. & Laski, M., 12 Oct 2021, Connected Places Catapult. 8 p. (Connected Places Catapult)Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report