British Airways Launches Sustainable Aviation Fuels University Challenge DEADLINE 1: January 18, 2019

(GreenAir Online) British Airways is challenging UK academics to create a new generation of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) based on carbon reduction potential, innovation, value to the UK economy and feasibility to implement. In a collaboration with Cranfield University, a competition with a first prize of £25,000 to fund further research was launched at an event held at BA’s London headquarters attended by UK universities and industry experts. The award is part of a commitment from BA’s parent International Airlines Group (IAG) to invest a total of $400 million over 20 years in sustainable fuel development and long-term supply agreements. BA Chief Executive Alex Cruz said the UK could lead the world in developing and producing SAF. The airline also provided an update on its project with Velocys to produce renewable jet fuel from municipal waste.

University teams are required to submit expressions of interest in taking part in the ‘Future of Aviation Fuels Challenge’ by 18 January 2019, with an announcement of shortlisted teams expected later that month. Submissions of final proposals close at the end of March 2019 and an announcement of the winners will follow in May. As well as the £25,000 first prize, there is an award of £10,000 to the runner-up and a £5,000 ‘podium’ prize. The winning team will also be invited to present its proposal during the industry’s Global Sustainable Aviation Summit next May in Montreal and during the IATA Alternative Fuels Symposium in November to be held in the United States.

The judging panel will be made up of representatives from the UK Department for Transport, IATA, The Climate Group, British Airways and the UK Research & Innovation Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. Judging criteria will be based on sustainability performance, degree of innovation, potential value to the UK economy, meeting UK aviation’s carbon reduction targets and ability to implement the proposal. Teams are encouraged to look to the future and consider non drop-in fuels as well as drop-in fuels where no modification of aircraft engines or supply logistics are required.

Leigh Hudson, Sustainable Fuels Manager at IAG, said forecasts showed 24% of aviation emission reductions could come from the use of sustainable aviation fuels by 2050. “Early development will likely be quite slow as we develop this new technology and we estimate up to 12 biorefineries will be in operation by 2030 before ramping up quickly after that.”

The UK government also saw huge potential for sustainable fuels to help deliver on its climate commitments, said Aviation Minister Baroness Sugg, who opened the event. “We want to encourage more sustainable ways to travel and realise the potential for the UK to become a global leader in this sector. We do need industry, government and academia to come together to tackle the environmental issues that we face today and this Challenge complements the government’s work to promote the advanced fuels industry within the UK.

British Airways is keenly awaiting a government announcement on second-stage funding under its Future Fuels for Flight and Freight Competition (F4C). Its project with Velocys to build a facility to produce renewable jet fuel from municipal solid waste (MSW) won a £434,000 ($580,000) grant from the UK Department for Transport in June towards project development (see article). Stage Two of the competition will provide a total of £20 million towards capital funding for building plants that will be shared among the winning entrants, believed to number four or five contesting projects in all.

Next year marks the 100th anniversary of British Airways and the airline says it will be hosting events that will debate the future of flying over the next 100 years and focus on three key areas: fuels, aviation careers and customer experience.

“The percentage of passengers interested in the environment is increasing very quickly, and they are very voluble. I am getting a growing number of letters and emails from customers about this and giving me their ideas. It pushes us to take leadership.

“As an industry, we need to explore a range of options to reduce our emissions. We’re already working with Velocys to build a plant that produces sustainable transport fuels from household waste that would otherwise go to landfill, but we don’t want to stop there. Some of the best scientific minds in the UK are based in the UK and are brilliantly equipped to develop a pathway for the UK to achieve global leadership in the development of sustainable alternative aviation fuels.” (Cruz) READ MORE