The carrier, which is also withdrawing from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), said “many of the levers” it needs to meet its target, including the ability to acquire new aircraft, availability and affordability of alternative fuels, and regulatory and policy support, are out of its hands.
The new investment is part of Qantas’ $400 million climate fund, which also includes its partnership with Airbus to develop a domestic SAF industry.
The Australian company, part-owned by Rex, unveiled the powertrain at an event in Seville, the first of its kind in Spain. The system demonstrated in Seville was designed for a Beechcraft King Air, and comes after Dovetail had been on the hunt for a European location since 2022.
Ground testing on the powertrain for electric aviation firm AMSL Aero’s Vertiia eVTOL aircraft is underway at Bankstown, with cylinders of hydrogen fuel on-site and in use.
A two-part report from global agribusiness banking specialist Rabobank predicts that the transition to SAF, which is commonly made from agricultural products and byproducts, will be the largest contribution to cutting aviation emissions over the next 10 years.
The Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF), Airbus, and zero-emissions aircraft firm AMSL Aero have all backed the sustainability funding, which aims to promote domestic production of SAF and other green fuels like renewable hydrogen.