The UK Government has announced £43 million (US$58 million) in funding for green aviation R& projects aimed at achieving net zero aviation by 2050.
The investment will support the development of zero-emission aircraft, hydrogen fuel technology and research into how climate-warming contrails from aircraft exhaust can be avoided. Businesses, researchers and universities across the UK will be invited to bid for funding through competitions launching from February 2026.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will use part of the funding to develop regulations required for the widespread use of hydrogen fuel in aviation. This includes support for companies and universities preparing for zero-carbon technology deployment.
Heidi Alexander, the UK’s Transport Secretary, said, “We’re backing businesses by powering up green aviation. Our £43 million investment will deliver the technology of the future, grow the economy and support highly skilled jobs as part of our mission to deliver national renewal.
“Zero emission aircraft, hydrogen fuels and other emerging technologies are vital to reduce the climate impacts from flying and will enable us to deliver our airport expansion plans to boost connectivity and grow the economy.”
Duncan McCourt, CEO of industry group Sustainable Aviation, said, “We know that aviation is one of the most challenging sectors to decarbonise, and, as we continue on the road to net zero by 2050, industry action combined with government investment are required.
“This funding will help turn ambition into operational reality across key decarbonisation pathways, helping to deliver carbon-neutral skies.”
The funding is part of broader government support for aerospace, which includes £63 million to accelerate new Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production plants and £2.3 billion (US$2.8bn) through funding agency the Aerospace Technology Institute over the next decade.
Tim Alderslade, CEO of trade association Airlines UK, said, “Today’s investment in zero and lower emission technology is playing an important part in delivering a sustainable future for UK aviation, a process well underway with the launch last year of the sustainable aviation fuel mandate and imminent passage of the SAF revenue certainty mechanism into law. The ongoing work of the Jet Zero Taskforce, bringing government, industry and experts together to drive progress, is a critical part of our collective efforts to ensure net zero remains a reality for our sector.”
