Bristol Airport opens 2026 funding round for aviation decarbonisation projects

Bristol Airport has launched the next phase of its Aviation Carbon Transition (ACT) Programme, a dedicated fund aimed at accelerating decarbonisation projects targeting emissions from flight and ground transport, ADS Advance reported.
The programme, which has been running since 2022, is focused on the South West region of the United Kingdom and supports organisations working on technologies to reduce carbon emissions across aviation operations. Applications opened on April 27, 2026, with submissions accepted until May 29, 2026.

The ACT Programme specifically targets Scope 3 emissions associated with Bristol Airport’s operations, covering aircraft, passenger surface access, employee commuting, ground transport, waste, and construction. In 2026, the fund will prioritise innovation across several areas, including development of alternative fuels such as biofuels, hydrogen, and synthetic fuels, electrification of airport technologies including charging infrastructure and batteries, local carbon offset initiatives, and technologies with scalable potential to reduce aviation emissions. Infrastructure and operational improvements to enable low or zero emission flights and enhance energy efficiency are also among the supported areas. Projects that also deliver co-benefits for on-site fuel and electricity use are additionally welcomed.

Past projects supported under the programme include a feasibility study by Ultima Forma for a liquid hydrogen refuelling system at the airport, and a study by Equilibrion examining nuclear-enabled sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production in the South West, which the report said could reduce life-cycle emissions by over 95 per cent.

Hannah Pollard, Head of Sustainability at Bristol Airport, said the region has a strong cluster of aerospace companies and world-leading universities, and that the ACT Programme gives them funding to develop innovative ways to reduce emissions, with the airport available as a testbed for new technology.

Bristol Airport has set a target of achieving net zero airport operations by 2030. In March 2026, it announced a £10 million energy centre that will use air source heat pumps and remove gas heating from the terminal, marking a significant step towards that commitment.