EasyJet became the first airline in the world to sign a contract with Airbus for its carbon reduction initiative. Available as part of Airbus' carbon capture offer, This technology uses Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage (DACCS). to offer carbon offset credits to airlines around the world to help them meet their decarbonisation targets.
Burying CO2 in tanks
DACCS technology filters and eliminates CO2 emissions air directly using powerful extraction fans. Once extracted from the air, the CO2 is stored in underground tanks.. Of course, the CO2 emissions released into the atmosphere during air operations cannot be eliminated at source. But thanks to this technology, an equivalent quantity can be extracted from the air. This technology complements other means of reducing carbon emissions, such as the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
Thomas Haagensen, Group Market Director easyJetsaid. " We believe that carbon elimination will play an important role in the treatment of our residual emissions in the future. It will complement other elements helping us to achieve our goal of zero net emissions. Our ultimate goal is to achieve zero-carbon flightsWe are also investing in major projects such as direct carbon capture technology. We are working with a number of partners, including Airbus, to accelerate the development of zero-carbon aircraft technology." .
EasyJet was one of the first airlines to sign an agreement with Airbus in 2022. The company undertook to enter into negotiations on the possible pre-purchase of verified and sustainable carbon emission credits. easyJet's credits will last from 2026 to 2029. The Airbus agreement includes the pre-purchase of 400,000 tonnes of carbon emission credits to be delivered over four years.
Hydrogen to the rescue with Rolls Royce
At the end of September, the company, in cooperation with Rolls Royce, has announced a new stage in its research project into the use of hydrogen in aircraft propulsion.
The two companies are committed to being at the forefront of the development of the hydrogen combustion engine technologyin particular for the narrow-body aircraft market. The target is the mid-2030s.
In collaboration with Loughborough University in the UK and the German aerospace centre Deutsches Zentrum für Luft-und Raumfahrt (DLR), Rolls-Royce has demonstrated an engine technology that marks another important milestone on the road to using hydrogen as an aviation fuel.
Tests on a complete annular combustion chamber of a Pearl 700 engine, running on 100% hydrogen, proved that this fuel can burn under conditions corresponding to maximum take-off thrust. Scientists have succeeded in controlling the hydrogen combustion process, which is faster than paraffin. A new system gradually mixes the air with the hydrogen to manage the reactivity of the fuel.
The technologies tested will now be integrated into earlier trials. Rolls-Royce and easyJet are preparing for the next stage. This will be a full hydrogen gas ground test on the Pearl aircraft engine..
