Zero Emission Flight Competition Launched

The Government committed in the Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution to invest in R&D into the infrastructure upgrades required at UK airports to incorporate battery and hydrogen-powered aircraft into their day-to-day operations. Funding will be available to support cutting edge research and development work to help build the UK airports and airfields of the future, ensuring they are equipped to support the transition to zero emission flight.

Connected Places Catapult is working with the Department for Transport (DfT) on the Zero Emission Flight Infrastructure (ZEFI) programme. A key element of this work is bolstering research and development into enabling the introduction of hydrogen and electric aircraft, and their supporting infrastructure, into UK airports. As part of the ZEFI programme, we are pleased to launch a new Transport Research and Innovation Grant (TRIG) competition. The competition will offer grants of up to £50,000 to at least 12 innovative businesses and universities developing technology into the following priority areas:

• Hydrogen storage, handling, aircraft refuelling/defueling, distribution, and associated technologies
• Electric charging, storage, handling, batteries, electric distribution, and associated technologies for electric-powered aircraft
• Research into future demand scenarios for airside use of green hydrogen and electricity at UK airports

This R&D programme will be complemented by demonstrations of sustainable aviation technology that will inform the UK's phased transition towards zero emission flight. This competition is one part of a wider programme of workshopping, road mapping and demonstration activity taking place in the current financial year.

Henry Tse, Director of New Mobility Technologies at Connected Places Catapult said:

“We are proud to launch this Transport Research and Innovation Grant as part of the Zero Emission Flight Infrastructure programme. TRIG: ZEF will provide us with greater understanding of the exciting work currently being undertaken by the UK’s leading innovators to enable sustainable air travel. It is also great news to see the Department for Transport TRIG portfolio expanding to new heights as it takes on this hugely important challenge.”

For more information on this programme, including how to apply, please visit our TRIG: ZEF opportunity page