The First Movers Coalition (FMC) has announced the 16 winners of its Sustainable Aviation Challenge, chosen from over 130 applicants, as the World Economic Forum’s public-private partnership celebrates reaching a milestone 100 members.
“The First Movers Coalition is proving the power of private-sector cooperation to drive meaningful climate action,” explained Børge Brende, president of the World Economic Forum. “Together, FMC’s 100 member companies are sending an unprecedented signal of demand, which will serve to drive up investment in and production of the critical emerging technologies needed to decarbonize the most heavy-hitting industrial sectors”.
FMC’s 100 member companies have collectively reached over 120 commitments to purchase ‘near-zero emissions goods and services’ by 2030; representing an annual demand of $15 billion by 2030.
In recognition of the role these emerging technologies will play in the quest for decarbonisation, the UpLink-FMC Sustainable Aviation Challenge has also announced its 16 top innovators, chosen from a pool of over 130 applicants. The Challenge was supported by partners Deloitte, First Movers Coalition and Salesforce, with ecosystem partners including Airbus, Breakthrough Energy and Airports Council International. Its winners encompass a wide variety of innovative approaches to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), battery-powered and hydrogen-powered flight.
A number of winners are involved with diverse SAF production pathways: from Air Company and Twelve (both using C02 as a feedstock) to Viridos, which utilizes bioengineered algae. Cemvita employs third generation feedstocks for its SAF, while Synhelion processes solar energy and C02. A further category of synthetic fuel, eSAF, is produced by Infinium, Iratec and Spark e-Fuels.
Verne is responsible for developing cryogenic hydrogen storage, and French start-up Beyond Aero – the only aircraft manufacturer represented on the list – are building the first clean-sheet aircraft designed for hydrogen propulsion.
In terms of propulsion systems themselves, both Ampaire and VerdeGo Areo are recognised for their hybrid-electric aircraft propulsion technologies, while HyFlux focuses purely on hydrogen. H3X are involved with high power density electric motors whereas Sylphaero are concentrating on electric propulsion systems for electric jet engines. Finally, Azerra is developing a carbon credit and fleet emission tracking platform.