German aircraft manufacturer Deutsche Aircraft and Norwegian energy group North Energy Cluster signed a memorandum of understanding expressing their common goal to develop solutions that accelerate the availability of technologies to achieve climate neutrality in aviation operations.
In the short term, both companies aim to reduce the carbon footprint of aviation in Northern Norway. In the medium term, the partnership will work on alternatives to reach zero emissions.
Large industrial players make up the North Energy Cluster, including major wind and hydropower producers. It also works with sectors involved in the aviation industry’s energy transition and has the infrastructure to increase the production of synthetic liquid fuels, which do not come from fossil sources.
For its part, Deutsche Aircraft is developing an aircraft entirely compatible with this type of fuel. It is a low-emission regional airliner based on the Dornier 328: the D328eco.
The new model is intended for the fewer than fifty seats regional market. Its main objective is to produce a low-emission aircraft that achieves near carbon-neutral flight. The manufacturer is also studying hydrogen-based propulsion alternatives for future developments.
«This partnership brings us a big step closer to climate-neutral flights», emphasized Martin Nüsseler, Chief Technology Officer at Deutsche Aircraft.
Northern Norway’s potential
Northern Norway is a large and sparsely populated territory, making the air network critical for connectivity. This, together with the availability of sustainable fuels in the country, makes it an ideal testing ground for the study of low-emission alternatives.
Short routes between the Lofoten Islands will be among the first to be operated with sustainable fuels.
«In northern Norway, we have the best possible ecosystem for making sustainable fuels a reality», said Anders Tørud, Director of North Energy Cluster.
In the first instance, the initiative will produce sustainable fuels using industrial CO2 sources. They will then gradually replace them with direct air capture methods using machines powered by renewable energy to minimize the emissions cycle.
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