Sustainability and Environment

Sustainability and Environment

04 February 2025

Revised and updated DESTINATION 2050 roadmap report published

The Destination 2050 initiative and roadmap developed by NLR and SEO at the request of A4E, ACI EUROPE, ASD, CANSO and ERA show an ambitious decarbonisation pathway for European aviation. The new report finds it is still possible to reach net zero in 2050. Nevertheless, it is clear that without short-term action this ambitious decarbonisation pathway will become increasingly more difficult, or even impossible to follow. 

Sustainability and Environment

28 January 2025

R&D case COCOLIH2T - Composite Conformal Liquid H2 Tank

The global aviation industry is committed to reducing global net aviation carbon emissions by 50% by the year 2050, with the European Commission pursuing a more ambitious goal of a 75% reduction in CO2 emissions per passenger kilometre. Alternative fuels such as liquid hydrogen (LH2) are seen as playing a central role in a zero-emission future for aviation. To store cryogenic (20 K) liquid hydrogen in an aircraft, the COCOLIH2T project carries out research and testing for the design, manufacturing and testing of storage containers for new and existing aircraft designs.

Sustainability and Environment

27 January 2025

The need for disruptive aircraft concepts to address climate change

The EU project EXAELIA aims to accelerate the reduction of aviation emissions and its climate and environmental impacts. The project will evaluate novel flying test beds which are needed for de-risking the development of future long-range aircraft, thereby also helping the European industry to maintain its market position in aviation. The project’s official kick-off meeting was held on 22 January 2025, in Amsterdam. The consortium is coordinated by NLR.

Sustainability and Environment

17 December 2024

NLR and Zepp.solutions join forces to fly on liquid hydrogen

NLR is taking a significant step towards flying on liquid hydrogen, a promising development to make aviation more sustainable. To make this possible, the research institution has signed an agreement with zepp.solutions to develop a fuel cell system. This collaboration is a crucial pillar in NLR's ambition to conduct a demonstration flight on liquid hydrogen in 2026.

Sustainability and Environment

10 December 2024

World’s first test facility for WLTP testing of larger vehicles

Marknesse – The German-Dutch Wind Tunnels – DNW is pleased to announce the opening of its state-of-the-art Automotive Test Section. This cutting-edge facility is the first of its kind in the world, enabling the accurate measurement of rolling and air resistance of larger vehicles in compliance with the European mandatory Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP).

Sustainability and Environment

29 November 2024

Drastic CO2 reduction needed for Dutch aviation

Everyone has their own opinion on the number of flights at Schiphol. However, if Dutch aviation wants to make its contribution to limiting global warming to no more than 1.5 degrees, in line with the Paris climate agreement, CO2 emissions from flights departing from Schiphol must be drastically reduced. This is evident from a study by NLR, which they conducted on behalf of Schiphol. The study shows that at least a 30% reduction in CO2 emissions is needed by 2030 compared to 2019.

Construction and Manufacturing

23 September 2024

Cold Testing has become hot

Pursuing the goals for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, liquid hydrogen as an energy source is a promising solution. One of the big challenges is the extremely low temperature, close to absolute zero, needed to cool the hydrogen. NLR has pioneered advanced cooling systems for material and structural testing, and elaborates in a white paper on its journey, eventually reaching temperatures of -253°C.