UK’s First Renewable Energy Powered Electric Airline Ecojet to be Commissioned in 2024

Earlier this week, British entrepreneur Dale Vince announced plans to launch an electric airline that will be powered using renewable energy, potentially marking the dawn of a new era in air travel.

The formation of Ecojet represents the latest attempt to reduce the environmental footprint of aviation. Flights in the UK will begin in 2024. Trips to mainland Europe will follow, and long-haul journeys are also in the works.

Several features make this initiative a step beyond just emission-less aviation, setting a bar for electric air travel. Onboard meals will be plant-based, and single-use plastic will be scrapped. Moreover, staff in the aircraft will reportedly wear environmentally friendly uniforms.

Ecojet will launch early next year with a 19-seater plane travelling on a route between Edinburgh and Southampton. Furthermore, the second phase is expected to commence 18 months later with 70-seater planes.

Awaiting Approval

The company is currently in the process of applying for a license from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and securing takeoff and landing slots at airports. However, the process of launching an airline is regarded as slow, and Ecojet will not launch as an electric plane operator, starting by using kerosene-based fuel instead. Once approved for service by the CAA, the aircraft will be retrofitted with hydrogen-electric power trains, as stated in the announcement.

Ecojet’s fleet will consist of traditional airplanes that have been upgraded with hydrogen-electric power systems. After the conversion process, these aircraft will maintain the same power output as before while achieving a remarkable one-hundred per cent reduction in CO2 emissions.

Dale Vince said, “The question of how to create sustainable air travel has plagued the green movement for decades, Ecojet is by far the most significant step towards a solution to date. The desire to travel is deeply etched into the human spirit, and flights free of C02 emissions, powered by renewable energy will allow us to explore our incredible world without harming it for the first time.”

According to the statement, repurposing existing planes instead of constructing new ones will result in an annual carbon savings of 90,000 tonnes. Furthermore, the statement highlighted that the only byproduct generated would be water, which can be captured and released into the lower atmosphere to mitigate the negative impact of contrails.

The founder of one of the UK’s pioneering green energy companies, Ecotricity, Vince has a notable background in launching environmentally conscious ventures spanning energy, transportation, food, and even football. Serving as the chair of League Two’s Forest Green Rovers, recognized as the “world’s greenest football club,” he has dedicated his career to promoting low-carbon and ethically-minded initiatives.

Decarbonizing Aviation

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), aviation contributed to 2 per cent of global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions in 2022. The IEA highlights that while this share may seem small, decarbonizing the aviation sector poses significant challenges.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) characterizes aviation as one of the swiftest-growing contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, which are the primary drivers of global climate change. Additionally, the WWF emphasizes that air travel represents the most carbon-intensive activity an individual can partake in.

Amid growing concerns regarding sustainability and the environment, the aviation industry is actively exploring innovative solutions to mitigate its environmental impact.

In September 2020, a hydrogen fuel-cell plane successfully conducted its inaugural passenger-carrying flight, soaring through the skies over England. Around the same time, Airbus unveiled plans for three hydrogen-powered concept planes. Collaborative efforts involving startups, aviation companies, and key players like Rolls-Royce in the UK and an Australian charter firm have also been underway to develop electric flight technologies.