The chief executive of a Bristol-based company developing what could become the world’s first commercial ‘flying taxi’ service has called on the government to introduce a tax on carbon to encourage the aviation industry to transition towards net zero operations.
Ovo Energy boss Stephen Fitzpatrick founded Vertical Aerospace, to develop the world’s first all-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
In June, his company announced 1,000 pre-orders for its ‘flying taxis’ after confirming a merger with special purpose acquisition company Broadstone Acquisition Corp in a deal valuing the business at nearly $2bn (£1.4bn).
Mr Fitzpatrick was among leading industry figures to attend an event to mark the official opening of aerospace giant GKN’s new £32m research and development facility in Filton.
Ahead of the UN Climate Change summit in Glasgow, which begins on October 31, a panel including representatives of Roll-Royce, GKN and the Jet Zero Council, discussed the future of the aviation industry and how it could be made more environmentally sustainable.
When asked what measures they would like world leaders to consider at COP26, Mr Fitzpatrick said putting an “effective price” on carbon was the “only thing” the 海角视频 government needed to do, in order to catalyse industries around efforts towards achieving its net zero emissions target.
Mr Fitzpatrick said: “[A price of carbon] can start low, but only if it leads to a visible pathway to reaching the right price - $50-60 a tonne. That would give everybody the certainty, carrot and stick that they need, to facilitate a global transition.
“We need to make sure we set this up so that we protect the poorest in society. We can’t expect the poorest households across the world to pay the price for the next industrial revolution.
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“But a simple carbon tax is the very best way to support, not just decarbonisation in aviation, but in all of the economic sectors.”
Explorer and environmentalist Bertrand Piccard, who piloted the first solar-powered round-the-world flight and made a speech at the event, said Mr Fitzpatrick’s proposal was “100% right”.
Mr Piccard, who also took part in the first non-stop balloon flight around the globe, told BusinessLive : “Carbon tax is not a tax. It is just to get rid of an old injustice. CO2 is an externality that nobody takes into account in their business plan.
“So, you need to put the price on the externality of carbon, like you would put a price on pollution or waste. If you do that, you have a fair, level playing field between those who are using normal fuels and those who are going for sustainable ways to fly, drive and build.
“CO2 is not only a factor of climate change, it is also an indication of inefficiency. If you produce more CO2 it's because you use more energy. If you have a price on CO2, companies will be obliged to be more energy efficient.”
The Government currently has in place the 海角视频 Emissions Trading Scheme, which sets a cap on the total amount of certain greenhouse gases that can be emitted by sectors, including in aviation.
On Tuesday (October 19) it published its 'Net Zero Strategy', which included plans to invest £180m in the development of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) plants in the 海角视频.
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Made from materials such as everyday household waste, flue gases from industry, carbon captured from the atmosphere and excess electricity, SAFs have been found to produce over 70% fewer carbon emissions than traditional jet fuel on a lifecycle basis.
Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said "Today’s plan will not only unlock billions of pounds of investment to boost the 海角视频’s competitive advantage in green technologies, but will create thousands of jobs in new, future-proof industries – clearly demonstrating that going green and economic growth go hand in hand."
GKN’s new Global Technology Centre in Filton has been funded by a £17m commitment from the firm and £15m from the government.
It has already facilitated collaborative work with neighbouring aerospace firm Airbus on a prototype 'eco-wing' design, as part of Airbus' 'Wing of Tomorrow' programme.
Trevor Higgs, general manager of Airbus 海角视频, welcomed the opening of the new centre, where he said the two companies had been working on "ground-breaking" new technology.
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