The government has confirmed more than £100 million in funding for research and development of ‘greener air travel’.
Business and trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds announced plans for joint government-industry funding of £103 million in “cutting-edge green aerospace projects” through an Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Programme.
The funds will go to projects will go to five aerospace R&D projects, including work on zero-emission hydrogen-powered flight, sustainable propulsion systems and new turbine technologies.
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The projects will be undertaken at GKN Aerospace, Queens University Belfast, Rolls-Royce, Short Brothers and ZeroAvia.
The announcement at the Farnborough International Airshow was aimed to demonstrate the new government’s commitment to aerospace and advanced manufacturing as part of its new Industrial Strategy.
Speaking at Farnborough, Reynolds said the government intends to “place innovation and manufacturing at the heart of our industrial strategy”.
He added: “Our world-class aerospace sector added almost £40 billion to the economy last year, and by backing it to pioneer cutting-edge new technologies we’re delivering economic growth and supporting high-skilled jobs in every part of the UK.”
Gary Elliott, chief executive of the Aerospace Technology Institute, said: “The ATI Programme targets investment in world-class research projects that will deliver benefit for UK aerospace.
“The projects announced today focus on advanced technologies that take us a significant step closer to sustainable aviation, from new lightweight materials to new fuel systems.”
The ATI Programme, jointly funded by government and industry, offers funding for research and technology in civil aerospace development in the UK.
The programme has offered investment in projects costing £3.6 billion since 2013.
The five projects involved in the latest funding are:
The Hot Section Lifting and Materials (HOTLINE) project led by Rolls Royce, with partners Cranfield University and the University of Birmingham, to develop turbine technologies.
An Advanced Fuel Cell for Aviation Decarbonisation (AFCAD) project, led by hydrogen flight pioneer ZeroAvia.
A composite materials project at the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC), led by Queens University Belfast.
A project to increase fuel efficiency, led by Short Brothers, and the H2FlyGHT project – led by GKN Aerospace and a consortium of UK-based aerospace suppliers and academic partners, including the universities of Nottingham and Manchester – to develop a liquid hydrogen fuel system and cryogenic (very low temperature) electrical propulsion system for zero emission aircraft.
Rolls-Royce director of research and technology Alan Newby said: “The HOTLINE project, together with other projects supported by the ATI, will improve the cost competitiveness and product performance of current and future engines.”