Sustainability and Environment

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).

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).

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.

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 significant reductions in energy consumption. The flight took place in Deelen (NL) and lasted 9 minutes, achieving a height of 400 metres (1,400 feet).

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 old-generation aircraft. The total aviation CO2 emissions calculated for each kilometre a passenger travels are not expected to change significantly soon, though, and total CO2 emissions may easily return to their 2019 levels.

Flight of NLR pipistrel above Rotterdam
Sustainability and Environment

02 March 2022

Electric flight achievable in the Netherlands by 2026

Electrification of small-scale short-haul flights in the Netherlands is achievable. The first electrically powered flights, for nine passengers, could be certified and available on the short-haul market by 2026. That would make it possible to take an important step towards making aviation more sustainable. That is the result of a study carried out by NACO/Royal HaskoningDHV with Royal NLR on instructions from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. The study has recently been present to the Dutch parliament.