Bristol Airport opens new round of decarbonization funding

Bristol Airport announced April 22 the next phase of funding for the Aviation Carbon Transition program.

The ACT program is an initiative designed to fast-track decarbonization projects targeting scope 3 emissions from flight and transport.

This strategic fund, focusing on the South West region of England, aims to support organizations developing cutting-edge technologies that will drive the aviation industry towards zero-carbon-emission flights. 

The ACT program officially opened April 22 with submissions accepted until May 29.

The program is a dedicated fund supporting innovative projects that address scope 3 emissions associated with Bristol Airport’s operations.

These emissions include aircraft, passenger-surface access, employee commuting, ground transport, waste and construction. 

The program has been running since 2022, with recent projects including a groundbreaking feasibility study by Ultima Forma for a liquid hydrogen refueling system at the airport and a study by Equilibrion exploring nuclear-enabled sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production in the South West, which could reduce lifecycle emissions by over 95 percent. 

In 2026, the ACT program will focus on supporting innovation in the following priority areas: 

• Development of alternative fuels (e.g., biofuels, hydrogen, synthetic fuels).

• Electrification of airport technologies, including charging infrastructure and batteries.

• Local carbon-offset initiatives with high integrity.

• Innovative technologies with scalable potential to reduce aviation emissions. 

• Infrastructure and operational improvements to enable low/zero-emission flights and enhance energy efficiency. 

While the program focuses on scope 3 emissions, proposals that deliver co-benefits for scope 1 and scope 2 emissions such as on-site fuel and electricity use are also welcomed. 

“Our region has a unique cluster of aerospace companies, expertise and world-leading universities,” said Hannah Pollard, Bristol Airport’s head of sustainability. “The ACT program provides them with funding for innovative ways to reduce emissions, with the option of the airport being available as a testbed for new technology. We’ve supported some hugely important projects that have moved U.K. aviation forwards, and we’re excited to see what applications we receive in 2026.” 

The ACT program is open to any organization or company, and applications can be made through the Bristol Airport website by May 29. 

Bristol Airport said it is committed to achieving net-zero airport operations by 2030.

It took a major step towards that goal in March with the announcement of a £10 million (USD$13.5 million) state-of-the-art energy center.

This new facility will use air-source heat pumps and enable for gas heating to be removed from the terminal.