Sustainability and Environment

TRANSCEND - SMR-H2
Sustainability and Environment

04 October 2022

Decarbonisation of European aviation under threat, new study finds

A shortage of European feedstocks for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) will limit European aviation’s ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from 2035 onwards. This is one of the main conclusions of a new study by Royal NLR and Delft University of Technology. This shortage means that greenhouse gas emissions will only be 40% lower in 2050 compared […]
NLR Hybrid Electric Plane
Sustainability and Environment

15 June 2022

Progress in ‘Smart and Sustainable’

Twenty transport organisations and centres of expertise published an action plan together in 2018 for reducing CO2 emissions in aviation entitled ‘Slim én duurzaam’ (Smart and Sustainable). This was followed by two addenda giving a picture of the activities and the results achieved. A third update has been made available today reflecting the current state […]
ESA Galileo constellation
Construction and Manufacturing

03 May 2022

NSO awards €500k for research into manufacturing of satellite propellant tanks

In close collaboration with the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), the Netherlands Space Office (NSO) challenges entrepreneurs to develop space applications. Their products must contribute to the ESA programs. Dawn Aerospace has been awarded €500k for this through the phased innovation competition ‘Small Business Innovation Research’ (SBIR). NSO, the Netherlands Space Office, has […]
Sustainability and Environment

15 April 2022

Large National Growth Fund contribution to sustainable aviation

The Dutch aviation sector has submitted a joint proposal to appeal to the National Growth Fund. With the ‘Aviation in Transition’ proposal, the sector focuses on research and development geared towards climate neutral aviation. It has since been announced that € 383 million has been awarded (partly conditionally). Thursday 14 April, the Nationaal Groeifonds announced […]
Sustainable aviation in the Netherlands
Sustainability and Environment

12 April 2022

Top players in the aviation sector aim to accelerate transition to sustainable aviation

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Royal Schiphol Group, Airbus, Royal NLR and TU Delft are entering into a close co-operation to develop the technology needed for climate-neutral flights in 2050. To mark the start of the Flying Vision joint initiative, the five parties signed a partnership agreement on Monday evening, 11 April. Climate change is a […]
Platform System Design

07 April 2022

The maiden flight of the Scaled Flight Demonstrator (SFD)

The Scaled Flight Demonstrator (SFD) is a key demonstrator of the European Clean Sky 2 research programme. The SFD is based on a 1:8.5 scale model of an Airbus A320 and has very accurate flight test instrumentation for carrying out measurements during wind tunnel and flight tests. More than 150 parameters are recorded. The overall […]
Platform System Design

07 April 2022

The making of the Scaled Flight Demonstrator (SFD)

The goal was to develop a highly representative scaled aircraft of an actual aircraft, to show that it can be used for obtaining flight-mechanics characteristics that are representative of the full-scale aircraft. This will bring a very cost-efficient approach for developing radical new aircraft, as needed for more sustainable aviation. The scale model is equipped […]
The NLR SCALAIR and Orange Aircraft teams
Flight Operations and Certification

07 April 2022

Maiden flight of Clean Sky 2’s scaled flight demonstrator

On 30 March 2022, the maiden flight of a scaled version of a single-aisle aircraft, known as the Scaled Flight Demonstrator (SFD), took place. Under the Clean Sky 2 Joint Undertaking, co-funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme and private industry, stakeholders will use the SFD to test and mature disruptive technologies that will enable […]
NLR HEP aircraft
Sustainability and Environment

05 April 2022

Investigating the commercial potential of battery electric aviation

Electric aircraft offer many advantages, but will they ever be able to compete on cost? As the world slowly recovers from COVID-19, the aviation sector is also expected to regain its former strength. Nevertheless, the pandemic has created a new focus on sustainability, and changes are expected in the post-COVID aviation fleet, such as fewer […]