Sustainable Aero Lab

✈️⭐️ Exciting news from VÆRIDION, one of our outstanding alumni! They’ve successfully closed their Series A funding round, raising an impressive €14 million to bring their electric Microliner to the skies by 2030. The company’s Series A funding round was led by World Fund, with participation from Project A Ventures, Vsquared Ventures, Andreas Kupke, Schwarz Holding GmbH, and InnovationQuarter. Munich-based Vaeridion is developing a zero-emission commercial electrical aircraft that is optimized for energy-efficient flight with novel technologies such as wing-integrated battery modules and an electrical multi-engine single propeller powerplant. 👉 Check the full story in the press release: https://lnkd.in/dZQ5yrJC

Brian Moran, Chief Sustainability Officer at Boeing, at the Sustainable Aero Festival: 1️⃣ Boeing has been involved with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) since doing a first trial flight in 2008, and pioneering research into 100% HEFA fuel in 2011. However, adoption of SAF remains slow, and Brian emphasized that “policy changes are crucial for unlocking its full potential.” 2️⃣ The pandemic has also hindered fleet renewal, with over 3,000 older aircraft still in operation. “The rate of fleet renewal dropped from 5.8% to 3.5% between 2019 and 2023… These are not the 20 to 30% more efficient airplanes that need to be. Replacing aging fleets is vital.” 3️⃣ What else is the way forward for Boeing in sustainable aviation? Brian noted, “We have all kinds of demonstrators and new technologies… not behind the curtain, but on stage. These are the building blocks we’ll need for probably the airplane after the next.” The company’s long-term strategy focuses on both current and future technologies, working towards net-zero emissions while tackling operational and environmental challenges. 🌱🛫 How do you think the industry can overcome the barriers to fleet renewal and #SAF adoption?

At the Sustainable Aero Festival, Tom O'Leary, Co-founder and CEO of JetZero, shared the company’s vision to change today’s “tube and wing” approach of commercial airliners: Jet Zero wants to disrupt the industry with a revolutionary Blended Wing Body (BWB) design, aiming for 50% lower fuel consumption with the propulsion technologies already in existence. Some of the insights from our conversation with Tom: 1️⃣ A demonstrator flight is planned for 2027, showcasing the feasibility of the new design in practice. 2️⃣ Targeting an untapped space dominated by legacy OEMs, Jet Zero could bridge the gap of having the only truly new aircraft design for medium and long-haul use until 2050 - with passenger, cargo, and defense versions. The aircraft would be compatible with most of today’s infrastructures 3️⃣ While hydrogen infrastructure remains a hurdle, industry-wide collaboration can pave the way for greener skies. Further development of JetZero’s concept to flying on hydrogen with 140 passengers over 4,000 nm would be possible. Tom’s message to innovators: Embrace first-principles thinking, set ambitious goals, and—above all—have fun while shaping the future!🚀 What are your thoughts on the potential of the Blended Wing Body design?

“The demand for connectivity will always be there. People want to fly, meet friends, see the world. Aviation's challenge is not about eliminating the desire to fly, but about making it sustainable.” - Arjan Meijer, CEO & President of Embraer Commercial Aviation, opening Sustainable Aero Festival. Key Takeaways from our Conversation with Arjan: 1️⃣ Europe Must Lead the Sustainability Transition: Europe has a unique responsibility to take the lead in aviation sustainability. As a region that has historically driven aviation growth, Europe must be the first to adopt sustainable practices and technologies. 2️⃣ Air Travel Demand Will Persist: Even with potential price increases, the demand for air travel will remain strong. People continue to value connectivity, and the desire to travel will keep aviation a critical part of global interactions. 3️⃣ Hydrogen and SAF Are Key for the Future: Hydrogen has significant potential for aviation but faces infrastructure challenges. Although a more immediate solution, sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) must overcome financial and logistical barriers to scale production and make it affordable. 4️⃣ Financial Barriers Are the Main Obstacle: Securing funding is the biggest challenge to achieving sustainability in aviation. Both public and private investment are crucial to supporting the transition and scaling up necessary technologies. 5️⃣ Scaling SAF Is Critical for Progress: The industry needs to make SAF available at scale. Once production increases, SAF will become more affordable, accelerating the transition to cleaner aviation. What do you think is the most crucial step for the aviation industry to accelerate sustainability efforts? 🌿✈️

✈️ What an inspiring journey we’ve just had! The Sustainable Aero Festival 2024 has come to a fantastic close! Over the past two days, we’ve: ✨ Connected with inspiring industry experts and newcomers alike. 🎤 Learned from exceptional speakers from Embraer (Arjan Meijer and Vinicius Di Nucci), Boeing (Brian Moran), RTX (Michael Winter), Breakthrough Energy (Mariano Berkenwald), JetZero (Tom O'Leary) and many more. 🚀 Witnessed groundbreaking innovations from over 30 startups shaping the future of sustainable aviation. 🧡 A huge thank you to everyone who made this event possible—our mentors, startups, attendees and, of course, our partners Luchtvaart in Transitie and Zaffra. Your passion and collaboration are what drive the sustainable aviation movement forward! But the journey doesn’t end here! Next week, we’ll share more insights, highlights, and key takeaways from the inspiring speaker sessions and startup showcases. Stay tuned! 🌟 The conversations, ideas, and networks built here are only the beginning. Let’s continue pushing boundaries and working towards a greener, more sustainable future for aviation! 🌍✈️ #SustainableAeroFestival2024

✈️Opening of the Sustainable Aero Festival: Arjan Meijer, CEO & President of Embraer Commercial Aviation on stage! "The plan forward, while addressing the Net Zero 2050 goal, is to replace the older aircraft with newer models, which should give us a 20-30% improvement. Any such fuel burn that we take out of the industry will not need to be replaced by SAF or any other technical solution. This is the first, low-hanging opportunity for the airlines rather than waiting for the great aircraft of the future." #SustainableAeroFestival

“Aviation isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. Our job is to make it sustainable for everyone.” – live from Sustainable Aero Festival: Brian Moran, Chief Sustainability Officer at Boeing, joined us on stage today!✈️

🌟 Sustainable Aero Festival has officially opened its doors in Amsterdam! 🌟 For the next two days, the brightest minds in aviation are coming together to redefine the future of flight. 🌍 Our stellar lineup includes visionary speakers from Boeing, Zaffra, Embraer, Clean Aviation, JetZero, RTX alongside 30+ innovative startups, all united in the mission to create sustainable solutions for our skies. This is more than just an event – it’s a movement, a call to action, and a glimpse into what a greener, cleaner aviation industry can look like. Follow the journey as we share insights, ideas, and inspiration over the next two days! ✈️ #SustainableAeroFestival Arjan Meijer, Brian Moran, Axel Krein, Susan Ying FRAeS, FAIAA, Jolanda Stevens, Michael Winter, Simon Masters, Christoph Todt, Matteo Mirolo, Vinicius Di Nucci, Sonny Tahiliani, Nico Buchholz, Ron van Manen, Mariano Berkenwald,Andreas Aks, Tomislav Lang, Ivor van Dartel, Stephen Snyder, Stephan Uhrenbacher

✈️  Final Boarding Call for the Sustainable Aero Festival! 🌍 👉The Flight Plan for December 2-3 is ready: https://lnkd.in/dFPYp6Ge Get ready for an inspiring lineup of cutting-edge insights, impactful keynotes, and pitches from 30 trailblazing startups. Whether you’re a seasoned flyer in the aviation industry or just embarking on your sustainability journey, this is your destination for innovation, connection, and inspiration. 🎟️  Get on board now with the last tickets: https://lnkd.in/dP-D8ZYB

✈️ Last Call: Only 30 Seats Left for the Sustainable Aero Festival! The countdown is on! Just over a week until December 2-3, when Amsterdam becomes the hub for sustainable aviation innovation. 🌍 This is your chance to connect with aviation’s changemakers—visionaries driving the future of our skies. 🎤 Inspiring Speakers include: Michael Winter, Chief Science Officer, RTX Arjan Meijer, CEO, Embraer Commercial Aviation Susan Ying FRAeS, FAIAA, Senior VP, Ampaire Brian Moran, Chief Sustainability Officer, Boeing ... and many more leaders shaping aviation’s future. 🚀 Pioneering Startups: Discover groundbreaking ideas from VÆRIDION, Spark e-Fuels, Elfly Group, Elysian Aircraft, and over 30 other startups. 💡 Why Attend? – Be inspired by bold innovation. – Network with top leaders and investors. – Shape aviation’s sustainable future. 🎟️ Seats are going fast! Secure your spot NOW: https://lnkd.in/dP-D8ZYB 🌟 #SustainableAviation #AviationInnovation #Networking #FutureOfFlight #SustainableAeroFestival