Climate change mitigation
Climate change mitigation
In 2023, Aciturri continues its commitment to the development of a sustainable aviation industry as a founding member of Clean Aviation.
The aerospace industry is undergoing an exciting transformation process with clearly defined challenges in the European Union to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
In 2023, Aciturri continued its commitment to the development of a sustainable aeronautical industry as a founding member of Clean Aviation, the reference public-private initiative within the European Union for the development of new aeronautical technologies to achieve a net reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG) of no less than 30%. This position allows the company to participate both in the decision-making and in the execution of projects to develop technological solutions aimed at reducing the emissions of future aircraft on three pillars: hybrid electric aircraft, ultra-fuel-efficient aircraft, and hydrogen propulsion. Around these initiatives, Aciturri is developing its role as coordinator of the H2elios project in 2023 and is part of the consortia driving the Newborn, Herwingt and FasterH2 projects. The company is also one of the founding organizations of the Asociación Castellano y Leonesa del Hidrógeno (Castilla y Leon Hydrogen Association), a non-profit organization created to promote the development of hydrogen technologies as a means of energy transition and decarbonization of the economy.
As for the development of products and the improvement and implementation of new processes, the Aciturri team is very active and always in close collaboration with clients, research centers, universities, and other companies in the sector. In addition to the eleven R&D+i projects the company was already involved in, seven more will be added in 2023 (see ‘R&D+i’ section) in fields as diverse as the development of liquid oxygen tanks for space launchers, the development of an innovative wing for the future regional hybrid-electric aircraft, or a complete demonstrator of a fuel cell-based aircraft propulsion system.
Aciturri has started several projects for the development of both hydrogen storage and transport solutions, as well as for in-flight storage with the aim of enabling the transition to long-range hydrogen-powered flights.
In the current context of industry transformation, hydrogen has become the main alternative to fossil fuel use. Based on that, Aciturri set in motion several projects to develop hydrogen storage and transport solutions and in-flight storage to facilitate the transition to long-range hydrogen-powered flights.
At the same time, the company is helping to accelerate the development of new sustainable mobility concepts. In 2023, Aciturri strengthened its position as Lilium Jet airframe reference supplier with the first fuselage delivery in December for this zero-emission vertical take-off and landing aircraft powered solely by electric energy.
In the same area, the work continues to supply Deutsche Aircraft with various components for the D328ecoTM, a more efficient, economical and environmentally friendly aircraft, aiming to drive the future of aviation towards the goal of zero-emission flight.
In 2023, the company further reinforced its position as an eVTOL supplier by signing a contract with Eve Air Mobility, a subsidiary of EMBRAER, to develop and manufacture several composite wing components for its 100% electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft.
Furthermore, Aciturri has signed a contract with Boom Supersonic, an American company, to supply the complete empennage for Overture, the new supersonic aircraft powered by 100% sustainable air fuel (SAF).
The company also maintains its commitment as an investor in Bound4Blue to support the project to develop and implement rigid sails in the maritime transport industry to increase wind propulsion.
We are aware of the impact on the communities in which we operate, and that is why, since 2016, Aciturri has used its carbon footprint as the primary indicator of its environmental impact. Since then, the company has taken steps to develop a comprehensive analysis process that allows the identification and calculation of the full scope of our carbon footprint, including not only direct and indirect emissions associated with power consumption but also those which are not directly related to manufacturing, known as indirect emissions from the operations or scope 3. Following the latest corporate operations, the company is working to extend this calculation methodology, including scope 3, to all its production sites. Aciturri also continues developing different energy efficiency initiatives to reduce its emissions (see ‘Energy consumption’ section).
The company has strengthened its position as an eVTOL supplier in 2023 by signing a contract with Eve Air Mobility, a subsidiary of EMBRAER.