Preparing UK airports for zero emission aircraft

Fundamental infrastructure changes are required to support the introduction of zero emission aircraft to meet the target of reaching net zero by 2050. The Zero Emission Flight Infrastructure (ZEFI) programme, funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) and led by the Connected Places Catapult, seeks to support the UK Government’s commitment to net zero by 2050 under the Ten Point Plan through facilitating Zero Emission Flight (ZEF) implementation in UK aviation. 

The aviation industry could account for 39% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, making clear the need for an accelerated transition to zero-carbon fuels. The New Aviation Propulsion Knowledge and Innovation Network (NAPKIN), a consortium including Heathrow Airport, Rolls Royce, GKN and others – has projected that the entire UK regional fleet can be replaced with safe, certified, zero-carbon emission aircraft by 2040. The first hydrogen-fuelled service is expected to be operational in the UK as early as 2024. However, airports must have the necessary infrastructure to ensure the uptake of these aircraft, supported by sufficient zero emission fuel production capacity and regulatory frameworks. FlyZero suggested that slow progress towards Net Zero aviation could lead to restrictive measures to aviation, impacting the UK economy and moving us no closer to net zero targets.

As part of 2021-2022 year of this programme, a Blueprint document was created, alongside other reports and a roadmap. The Blueprint document presented infrastructure operational concepts required for battery-electric and hydrogen operations that airports and airfield operators should consider in their planning. This phase of the programme will further prepare airports and airfields for zero emission flight by modelling suitable infrastructure options to support gaseous and liquid hydrogen-fuelled aircraft. ZEFI Year 2 builds on work carried out by FlyZero, looking at all available options for hydrogen infrastructure across a wide range of airport sizes.  

This year, our focus has been on hydrogen-powered aviation only. There are some limitations in the evidence for a clear way forward for airports and airfields. The Hydrogen Infrastructure Options for Airports Report aims to address any gaps and limitations on the understanding of the infrastructure requirements for this technology, compared to the electrical systems to charge battery-powered aircraft. In addition, there has been a clear shift in industry thinking on the potential of hydrogen to provide Zero Emission Flight, but likely limitations to the extent to which battery aircraft can decarbonise commercial air transport.

We are always happy to hear from interested parties, so if you have questions or ideas related to the ZEFI programme or how you can help us, just email us at zefi@cp.catapult.org.uk

Funded by the Department for Transport, the ZEFI Standards Action Plan has been developed as an output from the ZEFI Standards Advisory Group with a shared goal of identifying the standards needed to enable zero–emission flight.

This report examines suitable infrastructure for different sizes of airports and airfields to support gaseous and liquid hydrogen-fuelled aircraft between 2030 and 2050.

An updated roadmap to enable hydrogen-fuelled flight in the UK with a focus on aircraft and propulsion technologies, airport infrastructure and the hydrogen economy.

A comprehensive 90-page blueprint to serve as a playbook for the industry – helping to understand the changes required to transform aviation and hit zero emission targets.

The roadmap highlights that continued targeted acceleration of certain components is required to
support a co-ordinated introduction of universal technology for both battery electric and Hydrogen fuel cell powered aircraft.