The UK Government is investing £43 million in green aviation, aiming to boost jobs, leverage private sector funding, and advance research into zero-emission aircraft and cleaner flights
The UK Government has announced a £43 million funding package to support green aviation, backing research and development into zero-emission aircraft, sustainable fuels, and other clean technologies. The investment aims to drive growth and create skilled jobs across the aviation sector, attract private investment, and help decarbonise flying in line with the country’s net-zero goals by 2050.
Major investment to support airport expansion and decarbonisation
The major investment forms part of the Government’s plans to expand Heathrow, Gatwick, and Luton airports, and the Transport Secretary will today chair a meeting with prominent airlines, airports, innovators, and engineering firms to discuss how cutting-edge technology will decarbonise the sector while delivering growth.
The production of low-carbon fuels is expected to add up to £5 billion to the economy by 2050, driving millions of pounds of private investment into the aviation sector, supporting skilled jobs in technology development and scientific research, and funding projects to reduce aviation emissions.
Funding competition opens for net-zero aviation research
Businesses, researchers, and universities will be invited to bid for a share of the £43 million for research and development projects that help deliver net-zero aviation by 2050.
Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said: “We’re backing UK businesses by powering up green aviation. Our £43 million investment will deliver the cutting-edge technology of the future, grow the economy, and support highly skilled jobs as part of our mission to deliver national renewal.
Zero-emission aircraft, hydrogen fuels, and other emerging technologies are vital to reduce the climate impacts from flying and will enable us to deliver our airport expansion plans to boost connectivity and grow the economy.”
The funding will help deliver new developments that will support the Government’s vision to expand airports in line with climate targets, by decarbonising aviation and improving air quality.
Furthermore, some of the funding will be allocated to the use and tracking of sustainable aviation fuels in regions like Africa and the Caribbean, and to improve their participation in schemes that offset global aviation emissions. This will ensure UK airlines are not at a financial disadvantage compared to airlines based in low-income countries, which can avoid the costs of carbon offsetting because they lack the required tracking and implementation tools.
The Hydrogen in Aviation Alliance said: “The funding for green aviation projects announced today will help ensure the UK leads the future of flight. Hydrogen-powered aviation is at the heart of this ambition and is essential to decarbonising aviation while ensuring the sustainable growth of our industry.
We welcome the government’s support for pioneering businesses developing zero-emission aviation technologies, alongside its commitment to enabling the Civil Aviation Authority to put in place the right regulations for the use of hydrogen fuel.
These are important steps on the journey to making hydrogen-powered flight a reality and securing a competitive, sustainable future for UK aviation.”
Duncan McCourt, Chief Executive of Sustainable Aviation, said: “We know that aviation is one of the most challenging sectors to decarbonise and, as we continue on the road to net zero by 2050, industry action combined with government investment is required.
This funding will help turn ambition into operational reality across key decarbonisation pathways, helping to deliver carbon-neutral skies.”
Tim Alderslade, Chief Executive of Airlines UK, said: “Today’s investment in zero and lower emission technology is playing an important part in delivering a sustainable future for UK aviation, a process well underway with the launch last year of the sustainable aviation fuel mandate and imminent passage of the SAF revenue certainty mechanism into law.
The ongoing work of the Jet Zero Taskforce, bringing government, industry, and experts together to drive progress, is a critical part of our collective efforts to ensure net zero remains a reality for our sector.”
