Climate change is one of today’s most urgent challenges and requires collective action. To achieve this aim, air travel is among the priority sectors to target: while its social and economic benefits are undeniable, aviation accounts for 2-3% of global CO2 emissions annually.
For this reason, the European aeronautics industry and other European players in the aviation sector have committed to ensuring that air transport meets the EU’s 2050 climate objectives. As a result, there has never been a more compelling case for hydrogen-powered and electric aircraft.
The Alliance for Zero Emission Aviation (AZEA) is committed to achieving a net-zero aviation sector by mid-century. Its aim is to prepare the aviation ecosystem for the entry into service of hydrogen and electric-powered aircraft, ensuring that air transport contributes to Europe's 2050 climate neutrality objectives. The Alliance gathers representatives of the entire industrial ecosystem: aircraft manufacturers, airlines, airports, energy companies and fuel providers, standardization and certification agencies, passenger and environmental interest groups and regulators.
As members of AZEA, CEN and CENELEC are already championing specific initiatives with the help of existing forum rapporteurs, who combine their expertise on hydrogen and power supply systems to support the timely provision of coherent standards. This will allow a safe and reliable use of hydrogen in a decarbonising energy system and help remove the barriers to the large-scale deployment of hydrogen.
CEN and CENELEC are also cooperating with ALIGHT Sustainable Aviation on different topics ranging from sustainable aviation fuel (to improve the logistics chain and make the use of sustainable fuel efficient and cost-effective) to other renewable energy sources.
In general, CEN and CENELEC are committed to facilitating the transition to zero-emission aircraft and building a safer, more sustainable, and competitive Europe through European and International Standardization. To do so, CEN and CENELEC intend to strengthen their position as independent facilitators between industry, regulators, consumers, and other stakeholders while ensuring that their standards contribute to the competitiveness and sustainability of the European economy.
Kursley ALAIRY
kalairy@cencenelec.eu
