Air travel

Electric aircraft startups are having a topsy-turvy week

Beta Technologies raised over $300M for its novel eVTOL aircraft while Lilium filed for insolvency, highlighting the hurdles facing the nascent market

By Maria Gallucci . 5 November 2024

An all-electric aircraft prototype takes flight. (Beta Technologies)

Air travel

DOE makes $3B commitment to two sustainable aviation fuel projects

Alternative jet fuels are seen as key to curbing emissions from today’s airplanes. The Loan Programs Office is backing SAF plants to boost U.S. supplies.

By Maria Gallucci . 16 October 2024
Air travel

Air Company raises $69M to convert CO2 into jet fuel

The market for sustainable aviation fuel is small but growing. Brooklyn-based startup Air Company intends to use its new funding to expand production of its SAF.

By Aaron Mok . 18 September 2024
Transportation

United Airlines set to start using low-carbon jet fuel at O’Hare airport

The firm purchased up to 1 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel for flights at the Chicago airport, a meaningful expansion of SAF use in the U.S.

By Aaron Mok . 7 August 2024
Air travel

Leading hydrogen aircraft startup is suddenly grounded

Universal Hydrogen had raised $100 million from investors to build hydrogen-fuel-cell aircraft. Now it's liquidating its business.

By Maria Gallucci . 2 July 2024
Air travel

Can corn ethanol really help decarbonize US air travel?

The Biden administration will allow ethanol producers to access tax credits for sustainable aviation fuel. Farmers and climate groups have mixed reactions.

By Maria Gallucci . 6 May 2024
Hydrogen

How hydrogen 'e-fuels' can power big ships and planes

Aviation and international shipping are two huge climate polluters. Cleaning them up will likely require producing lots of hydrogen-derived fuels.

By Maria Gallucci . 31 January 2024
Air travel

This Georgia refinery is making low-carbon jet fuel from alcohol

LanzaJet will produce millions of gallons of sustainable aviation fuel this year, just as the Biden administration finalizes rules for lucrative SAF tax credits.

By Maria Gallucci . 25 January 2024
Air travel

Airlines have a big climate problem, and it’s not just CO2 emissions

A Virgin Atlantic flight made waves for flying without fossil fuels. But it was also a test for studying contrails, a hidden cause of global warming.

By Maria Gallucci . 6 December 2023
Air travel

In a first, a major airline will cross the Atlantic without fossil fuels

Virgin Atlantic will use 100% sustainable aviation fuel on a flight from London to New York. It’s an important step toward slashing emissions from planes.

By Maria Gallucci . 27 November 2023
Air travel

‘E-fuels’ are catching on as a way to decarbonize air travel

Massachusetts-based Lydian is the latest startup to raise funds to produce power-to-liquids fuels, which could emit less CO2 overall than fossil jet fuel.

By Maria Gallucci . 6 September 2023