The government is ploughing £113 million into the development of electric aviation technologies, including flying taxis and hydrogen-powered airplanes.
Earlier this week, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy revealed plans to back zero-carbon technologies being developed in the UK as part the of the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI).
Business secretary Grant Shapps said: “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.”
He noted green aviation represents a “massive opportunity” to create lots of jobs for the future.
The investment will be officially confirmed at the meeting of the Jet Zero Council, which aims to achieve zero-emission flights by partnering the government with the aviation industry.
Prior to the pandemic, the council employed more than 230,000 people in the UK and boosted the economy by £22 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA).
Chief executive officer of Jet Zero Council and chief operating officer at Heathrow Airport Emma Gilthorpe said the launch of the Jet Zero Strategy was a “key milestone” towards green flights.
This set a pathway to reduce aviation emissions, particularly by aiming for domestic flights to achieve net zero by 2040.
The government’s most recent investment, which will support British manufacturers in their development of viable green flights, will provide a boost to the Jet Zero Strategy.
It is also launching a Call for Evidence, asking for views from those within the industry on how England’s airports can achieve zero emissions within the next 17 years.
As aviation continues to develop, it will be interesting to see how engineers use mechanisms such as aerospace gears to create their new greener planes.