Winning projects include wireless charging for electric planes, swappable battery packs to keep flight turnover times to a minimum and state-of-the-art fuelling tanks to safely and efficiently refuel flights of the future.
The 15 successful projects have been awarded a share of over £700,000 to help bring forward innovative research and technology, which can support UK airports in handling new types of electric and hydrogen aircraft.
Grant Shapps said: “As the world reopens from the pandemic, it is essential that we are investing in greener aviation as part of our transport decarbonisation agenda.
“Funding these revolutionary projects will help to slash carbon, create jobs and get us closer to our goal of operating zero emission flights.”
Aviation Minister Robert Courts said: “As an island nation, aviation is essential for our future growth and plans to build back better and greener from the pandemic.
“With COP26 around the corner, we’re ramping up our efforts even further by funding the technology that unlocks the flights of the future.”
Nicola Yates OBE, CEO of Connected Places Catapult, said: “Connected Places Catapult is delighted to welcome these 15 innovative projects onto the TRIG: zero emission flight programme. The progress being made in this sector to enable sustainable air travel is exciting and an important step for the UK’s successful transition to net zero.”
