Sustainability In The Air

In this chat, Bertrand Piccard, a Swiss explorer and clean tech pioneer, discusses his groundbreaking Climate Impulse project aimed at flying a hydrogen aircraft around the world non-stop. He dives into the technical challenges of hydrogen storage and the efficiency of fuel cells. Piccard also shares his vision for sustainable aviation, emphasizing industry shifts beyond hydrogen. Plus, he explores the mental hurdles of innovative flights, urging listeners to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth. His journey advocates for cleaner air travel and the future of zero-emission aviation.

Lee Beck and Tom Walker from the Clean Air Task Force share their insights on decarbonizing aviation. They discuss the potential for synthetic fuels to dominate aviation fuel by 2050 and the challenges faced by biofuels. The conversation highlights hydrogen and ammonia as promising alternatives, stressing the infrastructure shifts required. They also emphasize the importance of carbon capture and an options-based approach to tackle aviation emissions. With a call for diverse solutions and collaborative efforts, they paint a hopeful picture for sustainable flying.

Anko van der Werff, President & CEO of Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), explores the airline's dynamic sustainability journey rooted in Scandinavia’s environmental ethos. He discusses SAS’s innovative three-pillar strategy—Sustainable Aviation Fuel, electric aviation, and hydrogen technology. Van der Werff highlights the airline's Conscious Traveler program, aimed at encouraging eco-friendly choices among passengers. He also shares exciting plans for an electric flight by 2028, balancing essential connectivity with ambitious sustainability goals.

In this episode, we talk to Sarah Ellerby, CEO of Nova Pangaea Technologies (NPT), a UK-based cleantech company that has created a patented technology called the REFNOVA®, to enable SAF production from agricultural and forestry waste.Ellerby discusses:NPT’s REFNOVA® technology, which processes non-food derived feedstocks such as sugarcane bagasse and wheat straw into SAF precursors.The dual-product output of the REFNOVA® process: sustainable sugars for SAF production and biochar for soil enhancement and carbon sequestration.Project Speedbird, a collaboration between Nova Pangaea Technologies, British Airways, and LanzaJet, which has secured £9 million in UK government funding.The challenges of scaling SAF production, including the need for significant investment and the importance of a blended finance approach involving both public and private sectors.Throughout the conversation, Ellerby emphasises the critical role of strategic partnerships and government support in advancing SAF production. She also shares NPT’s efforts to de-risk their technology and business model to attract larger investments needed for commercial-scale production.Looking to the future, Ellerby outlines NPT’s goals for scaling up production to meet the UK’s SAF mandates, while acknowledging the challenges in funding and executing large-scale projects.If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversation we had with Jimmy Samartzis, CEO of LanzaJet, who shares the company’s journey in developing the world’s first proven ATJ technology that converts ethanol into SAF and renewable diesel. Check it out here. Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry’s challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air’. Click here to learn more.Feel free to reach out via email to podcast@simpliflying.com. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.Links & More:Our biomass refinement process - Nova Pangaea Technologies Project Speedbird wins £9m UK funding for SAF production - Biofuels International MagazineNew investment in Nova Pangaea Technologies added to IAG’s $865 million SAF commitment - GreenAir News LanzaJet plans to produce 1 billion gallons of SAF by 2030 - SimpliFlying 

Freshta Farzam, the founder and CEO of LYTE Aviation, is revolutionizing the eVTOL industry with a focus on larger capacity aircraft. She discusses the inspiration for their 40-seater SkyBus, aiming to transform regional travel while challenging the trend of smaller air taxis. Farzam highlights the significance of hybrid propulsion systems and the potential for hydrogen fuel. She envisions partnerships that will integrate eVTOLs into existing transport infrastructure, paving the way for sustainable aviation in the future.

In this episode, we talk to Maxime Meijers and Nicolas Meijers, co-founders of Estuaire, who share insights into their innovative data platform that provides comprehensive climate impact assessments for the aviation industry.Maxime and Nicolas share:The development of Estuaire’s data platform, which fuses various data sources to provide granular and exhaustive climate impact modelling for individual flights.The significant impact of non-CO2 emissions, particularly contrails, which can represent an additional 30% climate impact on top of CO2 emissions.The importance of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in reducing both CO2 and non-CO2 emissions, and Estuaire’s approach to optimising SAF allocation for maximum climate benefit.The surprising finding that only 2% of flights are responsible for 80% of aviation’s contrail warming effect, and how Estuaire’s technology helps identify these high-impact flights.The potential for airlines to achieve significant climate savings through small changes in flight operations, such as slight altitude adjustments to avoid contrail-prone areas.Throughout the conversation, Maxime and Nicolas emphasise the unique transparency of the aviation sector and how Estuaire leverages this data to drive actionable insights for airlines, airports, and other stakeholders in the aviation ecosystem. Looking to the future, they discuss their ambitious goal of having 10 major airlines successfully implement contrail mitigation programs within the next year, showcasing the potential for rapid progress in sustainable aviation practices.If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversation we had with Alejandra Martín Frías, Head of Sustainability Research at FLIGHTKEYS, who shares insights into the company’s research on contrail avoidance and its potential impact on aviation sustainability. Check it out here. Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry’s challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air’. Click here to learn more.Feel free to reach out via email to podcast@simpliflying.com. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.Links & More:EstuaireContrail Index - Estuaire ESTUAIRE raises €2.2M in seed round to reduce the climate impact of aviation - Safran How FLIGHTKEYS promises major climate gains at a minimal cost - SimpliFlying 

Delphine Millot, the Senior Vice President for Advocacy & Sustainability at the Global Business Travel Association, discusses crucial initiatives for promoting sustainability in business travel. She highlights the staggering impact of corporate travel on emissions, with some companies attributing up to 80% of their scope 3 emissions to it. Millot emphasizes the role of sustainable aviation fuel in decarbonizing the industry and the need for collaboration between travel managers and sustainability teams for meaningful change. She also notes regional differences in sustainability efforts, particularly Europe's leadership.

In this episode, we talk to Tim Boeltken, Founder and Managing Director at INERATEC, who shares insights into the innovative world of e-fuels and their potential to transform the aviation industry and beyond.INERATEC is at the forefront of e-fuel production, developing modular technology that converts green hydrogen and carbon dioxide into carbon-neutral liquid fuels, including sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).Boeltken discusses:The basics of e-fuel production, describing it as “liquefied electricity” and explaining the process of combining green hydrogen and CO2 to create various fuel fractions.Strategies to overcome the challenges of high production costs and input scarcity, including modular production units and strategic site selection.The construction of INERATEC’s Pioneer Plant in Frankfurt, Germany, which will produce 2,500 tonnes of e-fuel annually and marks the company’s transition from technology provider to fuel producer.The current state of e-fuel adoption across various industries, with aviation lagging behind maritime and road transportation despite its long-term potential.The importance of strategic partnerships in scaling e-fuel production, including collaborations with companies like Safran, Engie, and Synhelion.Throughout the conversation, Boeltken emphasises the transformative potential of e-fuels in decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors and the need for continued innovation and collaboration. Looking to the future, he expresses optimism about the scalability of e-fuel production and its role in achieving global sustainability goals, particularly in the aviation industry.If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversation we had with Amy Hebert, Chair of the Board and CEO at Arcadia eFuels. Check it out here. Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry’s challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air’. Click here to learn more.Feel free to reach out via email to podcast@simpliflying.com. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.Links & More:Sustainable e-Fuels Startup INERATEC Raises $129 Million - ESG Today INERATEC and COPEC enter strategic partnership to spearhead e-Fuel availability in Chile - BNamericasSafran and Engie New Ventures invest in Ineratec, a German startup specializing in carbon-neutral synthetic fuels - SafranINERATEC and Clariant join forces for a cleaner future - Hydrocarbon EngineeringINERATEC and Zenith plan new e-fuels plant in port of Amsterdam - Offshore Energy 

In this episode, we talk to Billie Moore, Chief Executive at NZ Airports Association, who shares insights into New Zealand’s distinctive approach to sustainable aviation and the challenges of operating in an isolated island nation.In essence, the NZ Airports Association serves as a central hub for coordination, advocacy, and knowledge sharing among New Zealand’s airports, with a particular focus on navigating the challenges of sustainability and decarbonisation in the aviation sector.Moore discusses:The critical role of aviation in New Zealand, serving as an essential connection to the world and within the country, reshaping its geography and allowing New Zealanders to “live global lives”.New Zealand’s roadmap to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, including exploration of electric aircraft, green hydrogen, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).The collaborative efforts between airports, airlines, and the government, exemplified by Air New Zealand’s Flight NZ0 project and the involvement of various airports in testing new technologies.The potential of electric aircraft for domestic routes, with 60% of Air New Zealand’s domestic flights being turboprops flying less than 350 kilometres.The challenges and opportunities in SAF adoption, including New Zealand’s distance from major SAF markets and potential partnerships with Australia.Looking to the future, Moore expresses hope for continued international collaboration and information sharing, which will be crucial for small countries like New Zealand in addressing global aviation sustainability challenges.If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversation we had with Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai International Airports. Check it out here. Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry’s challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air’. Click here to learn more.Feel free to reach out via email to podcast@simpliflying.com. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.Links & More:NZ Airports Association Air New Zealand’s Flight NZ0, a decade-long journey towards carbon neutrality – Inside TourismHydrogen Consortium launched to promote green air travel in New Zealand - Airport Technology Air New Zealand receives 500,000-litre delivery of SAF - Biodiesel Magazine Air New Zealand is first major airline to scrap 2030 emissions target - The GuardianHow do you decarbonise a major airport? - SimpliFlying 

In this episode, we talk to Matt Finch, UK Policy Manager at Transport & Environment (T&E), who shares insights into the challenges and opportunities in sustainable aviation.Finch discusses T&E's role as Europe's leading advocate for clean transport and provides a critical perspective on current efforts to decarbonise the aviation industry. He highlights several key issues:The lack of fuel duty on aviation fuel, which Finch argues artificially suppresses the cost of air travel and hinders the transition to more sustainable alternatives.The UK's Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) mandate, its strengths and weaknesses, and the challenges in scaling up SAF production.The potential of alternative technologies such as hydrogen and electric aircraft, and the need for stronger government support to accelerate their development and adoption.The environmental impact of airport expansion and the need for more stringent conditions on growth.The importance of addressing non-CO2 impacts of aviation, which Finch says account for two-thirds of the sector's overall climate impact.Throughout the conversation, Finch advocates for more ambitious policies and actions to address aviation's environmental impact, while remaining cautiously optimistic about the potential for progress in the sector.If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversation we had with Hiske Arts, Campaigner at Fossil Free Netherlands (Fossielvrij NL), who explains why climate activists don’t buy the aviation industry’s commitment to addressing climate concerns. Check it out here. Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry’s challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air’. Click here to learn more.Feel free to reach out via email to podcast@simpliflying.com. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.Links & More:Aviation - T&ERoadmap to climate neutral aviation in Europe - T&E  UK to implement SAF mandate beginning in 2025 - Biomass Magazine The current state of scientific understanding of the non-CO2 effects of aviation on climate - David Lee The ICCT’s bitter but essential prescription for net zero emissions by 2050 - SimpliFlying ➡️ Can climate activists and the aviation industry ever get along? - SimpliFlying