MISSION
Our society faces very complicated challenges. As a single player it is not possible to realize solutions for the challenges that lie ahead. The only way is to work together and join forces and intelligence.
The European Union supports organizations that work together to solve (future) problems in our society. Smart Aviation Group Europe is the ideal platform to put this collaboration into practice. In the founding of this group we are supported by the Institut für Europäische Wirtschaftsförderung.
The group is committed to a technological revolution in the (air) travel industry.
Our biggest challenge is to overcome the requirements set by society regarding sustainable aviation.
Zero-emission aircraft will become market ready by 2030 and 2035, respectively*.
The aim of the Smart Aviation Group is to better acquaint its members with information about the use of hydrogen as a fuel in civil aviation, and through education, communication, and exchange of experiences, to carry out timely preparations of the infrastructure and personnel for supplying aircraft with hydrogen at airports.
Considering that the EU commission has reached conclusions for the energy transition of aviation from fossil fuels to fuels that do not emit CO2, the stakeholders of the aviation business must be involved in this transition process, in order to ensure, through timely preparations and investments, that hydrogen-powered aircraft can be replenished of hydrogen fuel at airports.
Looking at the state of preparation of hydrogen-powered aircraft, several MRO organizations are experimenting with the conversion of existing aircraft from fossil fuels to hydrogen fuel. Two significant entities in this conversion are Zero Avia UK and Universal Hydrogen USA, which convert turboprop engines to hydrogen engines. The predominant technology is the use of hydrogen cells, which convert hydrogen into electricity, and drive electric motors with the electric current thus produced, which turns the airplane’s propellers.
We see that these conversions are acceptable for airplanes with propellers, which results in limitations in the flight height and in the maximum range of the aircraft.
Airbus has announced the development of completely new aircraft that will be in the entire range of local, regional, and long-haul aircraft, but the realization of this plan in real time has not been defined. In the Netherlands, Fokker Next Gen has announced that it will develop an emission-free aircraft.
In document “Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy – putting European transport on track for the future”, EU define all problems facing energy transition in aviation and maritime.
Air and waterborne transport have greater decarbonization challenges in the next decades, due to current lack of market ready zero-emission technologies, long development and life cycles of aircraft and vessels, the required significant investments in refuelling equipment and infrastructure, and international competition in these sectors. EU international emissions from navigation and aviation have grown by more than 50% since 1990. Action in these sectors is urgently needed, including as they recover from the current crisis. These modes must have priority access to additional renewable and low-carbon liquid and gaseous fuels , since there is a lack of suitable alternative powertrains in the short term. The ReFuel EU Aviation and FuelEU Maritime initiatives will boost the production and uptake of sustainable aviation and maritime fuels and address this issue. Furthermore, the Commission will consider to establish a Renewable and Low-Carbon Fuels Value Chain Alliance, within which public authorities, industry and civil society, will cooperate to boost the supply and deployment of the most promising fuels, complementing action under the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance and building on the success of the European Battery Alliance .
Ports and airports are key for our international connectivity, for the European economy, and for their regions. In their transition to zero-emission nodes, the best practices followed by the most sustainable airports and ports must become the new normal and enable more sustainable forms of connectivity. Ports and airports should become multimodal mobility and transport hubs, linking all the relevant modes. This will improve air quality locally thereby contributing to improved health of nearby residents. Inland and sea ports have a great potential to become new clean energy hubs for integrated electricity systems, hydrogen and other low-carbon fuels, and testbeds for waste reuse and the circular economy.
ACI position about decarbonization is loud and clear:
Aviation decarbonization will require substantial investments across the whole air transport ecosystem. This is particularly challenging for a sector that has been one of the hardest hit by the COVID-19 crisis. For airport operators, the COVID-19 is currently leading to an investment crunch for the next five to ten years, severely limiting their ability to invest into climate action. In such a context, public funding will be crucial to complement the private investment efforts of the industry.
Activities supporting aviation decarbonization should be included into the EU Taxonomy for sustainable activities, facilitating the sector’s access to private finance. Revenues raised from the sector through e.g., carbon pricing, should be fully re-invested into its decarbonization.
Understanding that the first step is done, Smart Aviation Group is calling you to join us and contribute in the next steps of this demanding way which bring us to a non-polluting world of aviation.
* EU Milestones on reducing the current dependence on fossil fuels