Technology cooperation for aviation fuels of the future

23.10.2023 - 15:25 / breakingtravelnews.com / Jens Ritter / Airlines

Working together for a more sustainable aviation: Representatives of Lufthansa Airlines, the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR), Airbus, Flughafen München GmbH and MTU Aero Engines signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) in Berlin for a broad-based research collaboration on Power-to-Liquid (PtL) aviation fuels. PtL is considered the next generation of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). SAF are a crucial technological key for more sustainable flying and essential for the energy transition in aviation. The planned cooperation will combine the forces of leading aviation companies and academia to accelerate the technology selection, market introduction and industrial scaling of PtL aviation fuels in Germany.

Questions along the entire value chain, such as maintenance requirements or the benefits for local air quality, could also be addressed in the technology cooperation. Furthermore, the use of pure PtL, which means without the addition of fossil kerosene, could be tested in order to gain knowledge for the approval process.
In addition, the cooperation partners intend to examine the extent to which PtL fuels have the potential not only to save large quantities of CO2, but also to positively influence the so-called non-CO2 emissions.

“Research collaborations like this are essential for developing pioneering solutions for the climate-friendly transformation of air traffic. As Germany’s largest airline, we are firmly committed to step by step making flying more sustainable. I am convinced that we will succeed with the combined know-how from aviation and science and that we will also strengthen Germany as a business location,” says Jens Ritter, CEO of Lufthansa Airlines.

“DLR conducts research to protect the environment and the climate. One goal is the future climate compatibility of aviation. To achieve this, Sustainable Aviation Fuels are indispensable in large quantities,” says Prof. Dr. Meike Jipp, Divisional Board Member for Energy and Transport at DLR. “This is why we are developing production processes that support an economical supply of aviation and are constantly optimizing SAF. This can decisively reduce the impact of aviation on environment and climate.”

“Sustainable Aviation Fuels play a key role in decarbonization for Airbus. Already today, our aircraft can use SAF up to a quota of 50 percent, and approval for up to 100 percent is currently underway. We are delighted about this further deepening of our cooperation. The topic of PtL requires a team effort from aircraft manufacturers, airports, research partners such as DLR and airlines,” says Nicole Dreyer-Langlet, member of the Airbus management board in Germany responsible for research and technology.

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