CREDIT: AIRBUS
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Airbus A350
“ What is really exciting and what makes me passionate is that we have a purpose statement that says we pioneer sustainable aerospace for a safe and united world,” says Julien Manhes, Head of Sustainable Aviation Fuels and Carbon Dioxide Removal at Airbus.
“ We are the lucky ones who can pioneer every day.”
A brief history of aviation and aviation fuel Since the Wright brothers’ first powered flight in 1903, aviation has been synonymous with progress.
For decades, kerosene-based jet fuel – derived from fossil sources – has been the industry standard, prized for its energy density and reliability. But extracting and burning fossil fuels releases carbon that has been locked underground for millennia, adding to atmospheric CO₂ and driving global warming.
The aviation sector’ s reliance on fossil fuels has made it a hard-to-abate industry. Unlike cars or trains, where electrification is advancing rapidly, the energy requirements of flight make battery-powered planes viable only for short journeys.
For long-haul flights, liquid fuels remain essential – for now.
“ Electricity generated by wind turbines dates back to the 19th century,” Julie explains.
“ But wind power only really took off in the 1970s in the face of an energy crisis, and last year 30 % of the electricity generated in the UK was generated by wind.
“ That shows that we don’ t have to look too far in the face of crisis to see how transformation can come through innovation and technology. We need to start and we need to continue.
“ This decade has shown us that every year brings a new crisis. We are living in a world of uncertainty and at Airbus, our conviction remains.
“ We are pioneering sustainable aerospace for a safe and united world.”
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