SUSTAINABLE FLIGHT? EVERYONE’S DOING IT

Late last year, the Royal Air Force, Airbus and other industry partners carried out the world’s first 100 per cent Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) flight using an in-service military aircraft.

An RAF Voyager – the military variant of the Airbus A330 commercial jetliner – flew above RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire powered completely by 100 per cent Sustainable Aviation Fuel on both engines, paving the way for a range of possibilities for the future of flying military aircraft.

The flight was a joint endeavour between the RAF, Bristol-based aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the UK Ministry of Defence’s Defence Equipment and Support agency, British aircraft leasing company AirTanker and engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce, with the fuel supplied by Air bp, the specialised aviation division of British BP.

Michael Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, said: “This helps pave the way for a sustainable reduction of carbon emissions of our military aircraft fleets.

“Airbus engineers have made a significant contribution to this RAF mission by providing on-the-ground expertise and securing the necessary MoD military flight permits.”

Sustainable Aviation Fuel – which is made from waste-based sustainable feedstocks, in this case used cooking oil – reduces life cycle carbon emissions by up to 80 per cent compared to the conventional fuel it replaces, lessens the RAF’s reliance on global supply chains and improves operational resilience by reducing the necessity for fuel resupplying.

This success follows the small aircraft flight powered by 15 litres of synthetic gasoline – another world-first led by the RAF (see our interview with Paddy Lowe of Zero Petroleum in this issue). Synthetic fuel is made from water and carbon dioxide, which is then put under pressure and an electric current run through it.

Gloucester’s Wild Hydrogen secures investment

Gloucester-based Wild Hydrogen is one of four South West companies that have secured investment through Syndicate Room. The total investment for all four companies was £1 million.

Wild Hydrogen’s carbon negative process converts organic waste into clear hydrogen, while capturing and storing carbon dioxide.

Mark Wickham, James and John Milner founded Wild Hydrogen in 2021 based on an idea that Mark had been musing on for many years.

Just six months later the technology was proven and protected and the team recognised that this technology is a real game changer. Collaborating with Cranfield University and Helical Energy (Mark’s business) it soon became apparent that the team were extremely well placed to exploit the technology as a force for good.

The company is now operating from a site in Gloucester and well on the way to building a commercial plant, proving that there is a viable and sustainable method for creating negative emission fuel.

Proposed Blenheim Estate solar farm could power every Oxfordshire home

The most powerful solar farm in the UK, with the ability to power more than 330,000 households, could be built on the famous Oxfordshire estate of Blenheim.

If permitted, the planned Botley West Solar Farm would be able to supply the National Grid with 840 MW of cheap, clean power. That would, theoretically, provide enough energy to run every home in Oxfordshire.

The solar farm, which would cover more than 1,000 hectares, would be built by Photovolt Development Partners (PVDP), which has completed sizeable solar projects in Europe and Japan.

Blenheim Chief Executive Dominic Hare said: “We all recognise we are in an energy crisis and currently rely heavily on countries beyond our shores for our energy, which is at a premium and shows little sign of getting any better.

“As we contribute our land to this project, we do so knowing it could deliver enough clean energy to power 330,000 homes, enough to power every home in Oxfordshire, whilst supporting our collective declarations in the battle against the climate emergency.