Zero Emission Flight Demonstrator Round 1

Overview

Innovate UK is investing in large-scale demonstrator projects to accelerate the development of zero emission flight technologies. The aim is to position the UK as a global leader in sustainable aviation by supporting ambitious, collaborative R&D that moves beyond concept and into integrated, system-level demonstration.

This competition is designed for consortia capable of delivering significant technical milestones. Projects should strengthen UK capability across aerospace, advanced manufacturing and clean propulsion, while creating a clear route to commercial deployment.

If you are developing hydrogen, battery-electric or other zero emission propulsion systems, and are ready to demonstrate at scale, this competition offers a strategic opportunity to secure aligned public funding and build long-term advantage in a rapidly evolving market.

Scope

The aim of this competition is to demonstrate zero emission commercial capable flight in the UK.

Projects must progress the development of one or more of:

• flight operations for zero emission aircraft

• ground handling and infrastructure technologies needed to handle zero emission aircraft

• a regulatory environment for zero emission commercial flights

• the evidence base on the feasibility of zero emission aircraft for commercial aviation

All successful industrial research and feasibility study projects are expected to participate in the UK CAA’s Hydrogen Challenge regulatory sandbox initiative.

Through this competition the Department for Transport is looking to support the development of zero emission flight, specifically aircraft operations. These will, in future, be able to offer commercial passenger or goods services on a broadly like for like basis to current air services.

The Department for Transport and Innovate UK will be checking the scope of projects before they are sent for assessment.

Key themes and topics

For feasibility studies, your project must focus on one or more of the following:

• undertake detailed feasibility studies into the operation of commercial zero emission flights from UK airports

• develop detailed plans, business and investment cases to enable follow on investment decisions

• provide the business case to clearly identify and illustrate the benefits and risks of UK businesses committing to the future operation of zero emission aircraft

• gather and spread meaningful data to accelerate certification processes and inform investment decisions by others in the aviation sector

Successful feasibility study projects are expected to publish their findings to provide coordination benefits to the wider UK aviation sector.

For industrial research, your project must focus on one or more of the following:

• operate the demonstration of zero emission aircraft on an A-B route within the UK by July 2028

• demonstrate refuelling, take off and landing using either low carbon hydrogen or electricity at a minimum of two UK airports undertaking multiple A-B flights

• demonstrate the use of low carbon hydrogen or electricity in airside ground support equipment where this acts as an enabler of handling zero emission aircraft

• operate a zero emission aircraft capable of replicating an existing commercial passenger or freight flight using a fixed wing aircraft

• demonstrate development of standards for the airport handling of zero emission flight

• secure all necessary regulatory permissions to operate demonstration flights on A-B routes within the UK

• report on the benefits for passengers, airports and airlines of new zero emission aviation technology

Projects that include flight demonstrations will be prioritised, and a flight demonstrator project may be funded ahead of an infrastructure only project even if it scores lower.

Project duration

• Between 12 and 24 months

• start by 1 August 2026

• end by 31 July 2028

Award value

For feasibility studies, your project must:

• have total costs of up to £250,000

For industrial research projects, your project must:

• have total costs of up to £5 million

• have at least 40% of your project costs in financial year 2026 to 2027 and 50% of your costs in financial year 2027 to 2028

Funding rates

For feasibility studies, which evaluates a project’s potential by uncovering key factors and informing confident, well-founded decisions about moving forward, you can get funding for your eligible project costs of:

• up to 70% if you are a micro or small organisation

• up to 60% if you are a medium sized organisation

• up to 50% if you are a large organisation

For industrial research projects, purposeful research that builds new knowledge and skills to improve or develop products, processes, or services—often through prototypes or system components that validateideas in realistic settings, you can get funding for your eligible project costs of:

• up to 70% if you are a micro or small organisation

• up to 60% if you are a medium sized organisation

• up to 50% if you are a large organisation

Research organisations can share up to 30% of the total eligible project costs

Eligibility criteria

• Projects must be collaborative and led by a UK registered business of any size
  
• Subcontractors must be preferably UK-based with fully justified and appropriate costs  
• All funded project work must be carried out within the UK
• intend to exploit the results from or in the UK
• Subsidy control and state aid rules apply  

• Collaborators can be a UK registered business of any size; an academic institution; a charity; a not for profit; a public sector organisation; or a research and technology organisation (RTO)