This CAPA report summarizes recent aviation sustainability news and environment news. It is based on 300+ CAPA news alerts daily. Contact us for more information.
Airbus and Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) signed (09-Mar-2022) an MoU to create a “working alliance” to support the decarbonisation of the aviation industry through hydrogen fuelled aircraft.
The companies aim to support the entry into service of a hydrogen based aircraft by 2035.
Airbus FFI will consider the challenges of hydrogen regulations, supply, infrastructure and fuelling across the supply chain, from the production of hydrogen through to its delivery to airports and aircraft.
Airbus will provide information on fleet energy usage, scenarios regarding hydrogen demand in aviation, refuelling specifications, and an aviation regulatory framework.
FFI will provide cost forecasts and technology drivers for the various elements in the supply chain. FFI will also build infrastructure deployment scenarios to supply hydrogen to airports.
Glenn Llewellyn, Airbus’ vice president of zero-emission aircraft, stated that “Airbus has identified Green Hydrogen as the most promising option to decarbonise our environment to meet our environmental challenges.” Andrew Forrest, founder of FFI, stated that “The time has come for a green revolution within the aviation industry.” [more – original PR]
Original report: Fortescue Future Industries & Airbus team up to help decarbonise
Fortescue Future Industries and Airbus team up to decarbonize aviation
Fortescue Future Industries (FFI), a global leader in aeronautics and a global green hydrogen company, has joined forces with Airbus to form a working alliance that will help the aviation industry decarbonise using zero-emissions green hydrogen.
Airbus and FFI are collaborating to support the entry into service of a hydrogen powered aircraft by 2035.
FFI and Airbus signed today a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), at Airbus HQ, Toulouse. This was to celebrate the partnership. The MoU will enable both companies to work together as one taskforce and study the use of green hydrogen within the aviation industry.
FFI and Airbus will be focusing on the issues of hydrogen regulations, supply and infrastructure and fueling of aviation in the entire supply chains, from the production of hydrogen to its delivery at airports and transfer to the aircraft.
FFI will provide technology drivers and cost outlooks on the various components of the supply chain, and will create infrastructure deployment scenarios for the supply green hydrogen to targeted airports.
Airbus will provide information about fleet energy usage, scenarios of hydrogen demand in aviation, refueling specifications, and the aviation regulatory framework.
Andrew Forrest, Chairman of FFI, and founder of the organization, said that the aviation industry was responsible for more than 25% global carbon dioxide emission. This is despite the fact that emissions have increased by a third since 1980.
“Now is the time for a green revolution of the aviation industry. Dr. Forrest stated that this exciting collaboration brings together leaders of the aviation industry and leaders in green energy to ensure a future without pollution.
“We all are citizens of a global society. People want to travel, to reunite with loved ones and to explore new places, without having to pollute the environment. The problem is not travel, but how we fuel our planes. There is no greenwash, no mirage, only 100 percent green.
“Look no further then my home country of Australia to witness the disasters wrought by our changing environment. The catastrophic floods are being called a “one-in-1000-year event” but the reality is, these devastating weather events are happening every few years, for instance last year’s flood in Sydney was called a “one-in-one-hundred-year” event, in other words don’t expect another one for 100 years. We’re seeing worse right now.
“I ask the remaining institutions that continue to invest in fossil fuels to think about their children. Particularly, entrepreneurs who continue to support fossil fuel assets should think about their children’s future more than your profits.
Glenn Llewellyn (Airbus Vice President for Zero Emissions Aircraft) stated that “the future of aviation is green”.
“Airbus has identified green hydrogen as the most promising option to decarbonize and meet our environmental challenges.” It’s the green aviation revolution, you heard it here first,” Mr Llewellyn stated.
Qantas Airways stated (09-Mar-2022) Qantas Frequent Flyers will commence earning rewards for making sustainable choices as it launches its new Green membership tier.
The airline’s frequent flyers will be rewarded for making sustainable choices and supporting environmental initiatives by the Green tier.
Members who have completed at least five sustainable activities in six areas during their membership year can choose to receive 10,000 Qantas points, 50 Status Credits, or three tonnes of carbon offsets purchased on their behalf by Qantas.
These rewards are available in addition to the benefits members receive under their existing flying status, or as part of Points Club.
Qantas will also acknowledge certain sustainable actions taken by members in the years since the programme was announced in Nov-2021.
Six Green Tier activity areas include sustainable purchases, lifestyle and reducing impact.
The program will continue to evolve, and members will be offered more ways to be rewarded in other environmentally-friendly activities.
Members will be able to choose between Status Credits, Points, or Carbon Offsets to achieve Green Tier status. Additionally, members will unlock additional bonus points. These include 150 points for each night they stay at an Eco-accredited Hotel booked through Qantas Hotels. 250 bonus points are awarded for every six eco-wines purchased through Qantas Wine.
Other benefits include invitations and a digital Qantas Frequent Traveler card. [more – original PR]
Original report: QANTAS SWITCHES ON GREEN TERRIER
Qantas Frequent Flyers can now start earning rewards for making sustainable decisions at home and on the road as Qantas switches to its new Green membership tier.
Qantas was first airline to announce that it would reward frequent flyers who make sustainable decisions on the ground and in flight.
The Green tier will be added to the existing flying tiers Bronze and Silver, Gold and Platinum One. It will encourage and reward 13 million frequent flyers to offset their flights and to stay in eco-accredited hotels and to purchase sustainable wine.
Green tier members who have completed at least five sustainable activities in six areas during their membership year can choose to receive 10,000 Qantas points, 50 Status Credits, or three tonnes of carbon offsets purchased on their behalf by Qantas. There are also a variety of exclusive benefits. These rewards can be added to the benefits members already receive as part or their Points Club status. Qantas will also recognize certain sustainable actions taken since November’s announcement of the program.
These are the six activity areas of the Green Tier:
- Travelling: Book an eco-accredited hotel through Qantas Hotels in Australia.
- Flying: Offset the emissions of flights through our Fly Carbon Neutral program, with Qantas matching contributions dollar for dollar.
- Sustainable purchases: Choose from more than 200 sustainable wines through Qantas Wine, or make deliveries from both Qantas Wine and the Qantas Rewards Store climate positive for just $1.
- Lifestyle: Install solar panels or help support high quality and verified carbon offset projects in Australia and around the world when offsetting home and car emissions.
- Reducing impact: Complete the sustainability quiz in the Qantas Wellbeing App which is designed to help members understand how they can better reduce their impact, with plans to add more actions to the app in the future.
- Giving back: Make a contribution towards organisations and projects committed to sustainability, including protecting the Great Barrier Reef and supporting sustainable initiatives developed by charity partners OzHarvest, UNICEF and Kimberley Land Council.
The program will continue to evolve, offering members more opportunities to be rewarded for other environmentally-friendly activities such as walking or cycling to work or choosing sustainable aviation fuel when traveling.
Olivia Wirth, Qantas Loyalty CEO said frequent flyers said they would appreciate support and rewards for being more sustainably.
Ms Wirth explained that the program makes it easier for frequent travelers to make more sustainable choices at home as well as when they travel. It also rewards them when they do so.
We know that points can influence behaviour. We have seen this when we provided points for walking, sleeping and vaccinating people through the Wellbeing app. We also know that even small changes can make a big difference.
Our frequent flyers, like many Australians, are concerned about climate change. We are committed to net zero emissions by 2050 as a company. Later this month, we will release more information about our interim 2030 emissions targets and the steps we are taking in order to achieve them.
The Qantas Group committed to net zero carbon emission by 2050. This was the second time that an airline has made this commitment. The airline will achieve this goal through four main actions: the adoption of sustainable aviation fuel, reducing fuel consumption through operational improvements, using new, low-emission technology and carbon offset.
Benefits of Green Tier status
Members will be able to choose between status credits, points, or carbon offsets to reach Green Tier status. They can also unlock bonus points. These include 150 points per night for eco-accredited hotels booked through Qantas Hotels. 250 bonus points are available for each six eco-wines purchased via Qantas Wine.
Other benefits include invitations and a digital Qantas Frequent Traveler card.
Eco-accredited hotel examples
More than 30 hotels were chosen based on their commitment towards sustainability against seven criteria: water and waste management and design innovation, conservation, ethics, clean energy, community engagement, and clean food.
- Alto on Bourke, Melbourne: First hotel in Australia to receive the coveted EarthCheck Gold Certification and first city hotel in Australia to offset all calculated carbon output to become carbon neutral 1 night from $410.
- Daintree Wilderness lodge, Daintree We are committed to sustainable and regenerative tourism. From conservation and community initiatives to integrating green technology into every aspect of operations, 1 night starting at $345.
- Crystalbrook Byron The hotel is committed to sustainable luxury. From the restaurant to the in-room amenities to the food, the hotel uses locally sourced products and produces 1 night starting at $505.
Eco-wine examples
Qantas Wine has partnered with Sustainable Winegrowing Australia to help members choose wines that have strong eco-credentials. They annually measure, monitor, and report on members’ carbon footprints and sustainability practices in six key areas. These are land and soil, waste energy, water, biodiversity and people.
Qantas Wine customers who purchase eco-wine through Qantas Wine are encouraged to choose wines from certified wine companies that demonstrate excellence in sustainability practices, as confirmed by an independent audit against Australian wine industry standard.
- Tahbilk Marsanne 2020
- Penfolds Bin 28 Shiraz 2019
- Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay 2018
Rotterdam The Hague AirportIn collaboration with Alternus Energy (09/03/2022), construction of a 13.6 Megawatt solar park near the runway was completed.
Ron Louwerse, Airport CEO, stated that the park’s energy will offset ground operations’ emissions.
Uper Energy Europe will operate and maintain the facility. [more – original PR]
Original report: Alternus Energy creates 13.6 MW of solar power at Rotterdam Airport. This increases the total
Alternus Energy activates 13.6 MW of solar power at Rotterdam Airport. This doubles the Netherlands’ footprint and increases total operating assets.
Alternus Energy Group Plc, an international renewable independent power producer (IPP), has completed the installation of its 13.6 megawatt project at Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTHA). The engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC), arm of Unisun Energy Europe (Unisun) developed and installed the project.
The project is supported for 15 years by the Dutch SDE+ subsidy and a power purchase agreement between Eneco. After the subsidy period ends the park will continue operating at the prevailing energy rates.
Vincent Browne, CEO of Alternus Energy, spoke about the success of the project.
Alternus is proud to have completed this project, which marks another milestone in its history. It was the first project that we have delivered from initial development to operation, confirming our status and being an integrated IPP. Despite the complexity of connecting more than 36,000 solar panels to the grid and installing them at airports, the entire process was completed in-house.
The project was completed in mid-October 2021. The commercial operation date (COD), for the project, was achieved at the end February 2022. Uper Energy Europe (a subsidiary of Unisun) will manage the operation and maintenance services.
Andre Kempenaars, CEO Unisun, commented:
We are delighted to have achieved COD for this project in partnership with RTHA. This was not an easy task due to many challenges specific to each project, as well as a global pandemic. But we did it. We currently have 255MW of projects under development in the Netherlands. We expect to deliver these projects in the next years and contribute further to national decarbonisation goals.
Ron Louwerse, CEO, Rotterdam the Hague Airport added:
As we strive to become one of the most sustainable airports, the energized solar park is another milestone in our sustainability journey. The solar park will generate enough energy to offset our ground-based operations. We are happy to have worked with Unisun Energy, in particular, to achieve energisation. We look forward to working closely with Uper Energy during the operational phase.
Korea Airports Corporation targets a 40% reduction in carbon emissions for 2030
Korea Airports Corporation (KAC) announced (07-Mar-2022) it aims to achieve a 40% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 and aims to source 100% of KAC operated airports’ electricity consumption from renewables by 2040. [more – original PR – Korean]
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Mnster/Osnabrck Airport outlined (03-Mar-2022) the following environmental projects for 2022:
- Construction of a photovoltaic solar system on the roof at car park ‘A” will begin in May-2022. The system will generate an average 620,000kWh/a and will primarily power the airport’s own needs.
- Conversion of all runway/parking area lights to LED lighting
- The airport is working towards KOPROFIT certification by the middle of 2022. The certification is a partnership between the Steinfurt Kreis (Mnster Chamber of Skilled Crafts), Steinfurt Economic Association and Energy Agency North Rhine-Westphalia.
Mnster/Osnabrck Airport has reduced CO2 emissions by over 90% to 241 tonnes p/a over the past 10 years. The airport aims for “climate neutrality” by 2030. [more – original PR – German]
Original report: FMO auf dem Weg zum klimaneutralen Airport
Der Flughafen Mnster/Osnabrck ist seinem ehrgeizigen Ziel, bis zum Jahr 2030 klimaneutral zu agieren, wieder ein groes Stck nhergekommen. Gegenber dem Bezugsjahr 2010 konnten die CO2- Emissionen innerhalb von zehn Jahren von 5.347 Tonnen auf gerade einmal 241 Tonnen reduziert werden. Das entspricht einem Rckgang von ber 90 Prozent. Erreicht werden konnte dieser Wert vor allem durch den konsequenten Einsatz von nachwachsenden Rohstoffen fr den Betrieb von Wrme- und Klteanlagen, den Einsatz von Strom aus 100 Prozent regenerativen Energien und die sukzessive Umrstung der speziell fr den Flughafenbetrieb bentigten Gerte und Maschinen auf alternative Antriebsarten.
Der FMO-Aufsichtsratsvorsitzende, Landrat Dr. Martin Sommer, begrte ausdrcklich das Engagement des Flughafens fr Nachhaltigkeit: Wir sind schon ein wenig stolz, dass der FMO sich das Ziel gesetzt hat und sicherlich auch erreichen wird, als einer der ersten Flughfen in Deutschland bis sptestens 2030 seinen Betrieb klimaneutral durchzufhren.
Umweltbericht und Umweltbeauftragte
Die Aktivitten des FMO, mglichst ressourcenschonend zu arbeiten, beschrnken sich aber nicht nur auf die Bemhungen der CO2-Reduktion. Die vielschichtigen Anstrengungen sind nun erstmalig in einem Umweltbericht dokumentiert worden. Darber hinaus ist die Position einer Umweltbeauftragten geschaffen worden. Auch Fluggste und Besucher profitieren: Auf dem Parkplatz P1 wurden jetzt sechs Ladesulen mit insgesamt 12 Ladepunkten installiert. Fahrzeuge, die diesen Parkplatz nutzen, knnen dort kostenfrei mit kostrom wieder geladen werden. Auch die im Flughafenbetrieb eingesetzten Fahrzeuge werden immer weiter auf elektrischen Antrieb umgestellt. Fr den Einsatz auf dem Vorfeld wurde jetzt eine Flotte von Volkswagen E-Transportern angeschafft. Dazu arbeitet der FMO eng mit dem Mnsteraner Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge Standort der Senger Gruppe zusammen.
Weitere Meilensteine in 2022
Auch fr das Jahr 2022 stehen wichtige Meilensteine auf dem Weg zum klimaneutralen Airport an, sagte FMO-Geschftsfhrer Prof. Dr. Rainer Schwarz. Wir ruhen uns auf den bisher erreichten Ergebnissen nicht aus, sondern arbeiten konsequent an unseren Umweltzielen. Im Mai wird mit dem Bau einer Photovoltaikanlage auf dem Dach des Parkhauses A begonnen. Pro Jahr wird mit einer Produktion von durchschnittlich 620.000 KWh am Airport gerechnet. Der erzeugte Strom wird mageblich im Eigenverbrauch genutzt.
Auerdem arbeitet der FMO aktuell an der KOPROFIT-Zertifizierung. KOPROFIT ist ein Kooperationsprojekt des Kreises Steinfurt zusammen mit der Handwerkskammer Mnster, der Wirtschaftsvereinigung Steinfurt e.V., der Effizienz-Agentur NRW und anderen Partnern. Der FMO hat sich das Ziel gesetzt, seine Umweltaktivitten bis Mitte dieses Jahres zertifiziert zu bekommen.
Weitere groe Projekte, die in diesem Jahr starten, sind die Umrstung der kompletten Befeuerung der Start- und Landebahn und die Beleuchtung der Parkflchen mit moderner und energieeffizienter LED-Technik.
Als Fazit erklrte Prof. Dr. Schwarz: Der Infragestellung des FMO aus kologischen Grnden ist sptestens mit dem heutigen Tag die rationale Grundlage entzogen worden. Ohne den FMO als klimaneutrale Infrastruktur reduziert man nicht den CO2-Verbrauch, sondern erhht ihn sogar durch die dann lngeren Anfahrtstrecken der Passagiere zu anderen Flughfen mit ihren PKW.
Unter fmo.de/green-airport sind alle Aktivitten in Sachen Umweltschutz bersichtlich dargestellt. Auch der neue Umweltbericht kann dort heruntergeladen werden.
