The UK government has announced up to £43 million in funding to support cleaner aviation projects, a move aimed at cutting emissions from flying while backing airport expansion and skilled jobs across the country, reports UK Aviation News.
The funding, unveiled on Tuesday, will support research into zero-emission aircraft, cleaner aviation systems and sustainable fuels. It will also finance studies on reducing aviation’s climate impact, including work to better understand and limit the warming effects of aircraft exhaust trails.
The announcement comes as the government continues with plans to expand major airports, including Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is expected to hold a senior-level meeting with airlines, airport operators, technology developers and engineering firms to discuss how new technology can allow growth while meeting climate goals.
Businesses, universities and research institutions across the UK will be invited to apply for the funding, with competitive programmes set to open from February. The supported projects are intended to help the country meet its target of net-zero aviation by 2050 and are expected to attract significant private investment.
Low-carbon aviation fuels are seen as a major economic opportunity, with fuel production alone forecast to add up to £5 billion to the UK economy by 2050. The government said the £43 million package is expected to unlock substantial private funding while supporting highly skilled jobs in research and technology development.
Speaking at the launch, Alexander said the investment will help British companies develop future aviation technology, strengthen the economy and support skilled employment as part of wider national renewal efforts. She said cleaner aircraft, hydrogen fuels and other emerging solutions are essential to reducing the environmental impact of flying while allowing airport expansion to move forward.
Some of the funding could be used for trials to better understand how aircraft condensation trails, which can contribute to global warming, can be reduced or avoided. The Civil Aviation Authority will also work on new rules to support the wider use of hydrogen fuel in aviation, in cooperation with companies and universities preparing for low-emission flight.
A portion of the investment will support the tracking and use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels in regions such as Africa and the Caribbean. This aims to strengthen participation in global carbon offset programmes and ensure UK airlines are not placed at a cost disadvantage compared with carriers operating in lower-income countries.
The announcement adds to existing government measures to support cleaner aviation. The Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill, expected to take effect later this year, will provide long-term price certainty for UK fuel producers. This is backed by a further £63 million to speed up new fuel production plants and £2.3 billion in funding through the Aerospace Technology Institute over the next decade.
Industry groups welcomed the decision. The Hydrogen in Aviation Alliance said the funding would help position the UK at the forefront of future aviation, with hydrogen-powered flight playing a key role in cutting emissions. Duncan McCourt, chief executive of Sustainable Aviation, said the funding would help turn long-term plans into real action, while Airlines UK chief executive Tim Alderslade said the investment is an important step toward a cleaner, net-zero future for the sector.
