Trinity will this summer launch Ireland’s first-ever research initiative aimed at developing sustainable aviation fuels.
Made possible by a €1.5 million investment from the airline Ryanair, the project will also seek to develop “zero-carbon aircraft propulsion systems”, along with “noise mapping” technologies with the aim of creating low-noise, low-emission aircraft fleets.
Named the Sustainable Aviation Centre, the project will form part of E3, College’s Engineering, Environment and Emerging Technologies initiative, and will employ a team of six researchers.
The centre hopes to inform the decision making of both EU and international governments aiming to make air travel economically and environmentally sustainable.
In a joint press statement, the airline also committed to using “sustainable aviation fuels” (SAFs) for 12.5 per cent of its flights by 2030.
According to British multinational oil giant BP, SAFs refer to fuels derived from “sustainable feedstocks” which have very similar chemical properties to traditional aviation fuels, but can emit up to 80 per cent less carbon dioxide (CO2).
Speaking after the announcement, Provost Patrick Prendergast said: “The critical need for humanity to meet the great challenge of our time – climate change – demands new thinking on every front.”
“Science and technological research have a vital role to play in finding balanced solutions for a better world and E3 is Trinity’s farsighted response to this demand.”
He added: “Using emerging technologies, our multi-disciplinary teams of scientists and engineers in Trinity’s new Sustainable Aviation Research Centre will tackle important questions such as how to reduce aircraft emissions with sustainable aviation fuels, electric propulsion, and reduced noise.”
Ryanair’s commitment comes a week after one of its largest competitors, British Airways, made a similar promise to power 10 per cent of flights with SAFs by 2030.
According to Reuters, Ryanair’s CEO, Michael O’Leary, predicted earlier this month that the commitment would be closer to 3 to 5 per cent.
In the press release, Ryanair’s Director of Sustainability, Thomas Fowler said: “This €1.5m donation by Ryanair to help open Ireland’s first Sustainable Aviation Research Centre is a hugely exciting project and an important pillar of our environmental targets supporting our goal to power 12.5 per cent of flights with sustainable aviation fuels by 2030.
“This partnership with Trinity College Dublin seeks to inform and improve future investment by the aviation industry to secure a carbon neutral future for aviation and noise reduction through investment in new technologies.”
He added that he hopes the initiative will help to provide the knowledge the industry requires to “invest confidently in sustainable fuels and technology going forward”.
In Trinity’s recent Provostial elections, the College’s environmental sustainability was a major topic of discussion. Eventual winner Provost-elect Linda Doyle promised to create a vice-president for climate change and biodiversity as well as a sustainability office.
