Parliamentarians Gather to Discuss Decarbonisation of the Aviation Sector

Press Release

Thursday, 4th May 2023

Parliamentarians gathered recently to re-form the Electric Aviation All-Party Parliamentary Group, which will champion the development, testing, demonstration and commercialisation of hydrogen electric propulsion systems. The only All-Party Parliamentary Group to focus solely on zero-emissions aircraft, it aims to connect MPs and Peers with innovators in industry who are working to make true-zero aviation a reality.

The Group is chaired by Sir Paul Beresford MP, who was joined by five Parliamentary colleagues in late March to formally constitute the group. Among those elected to be a Vice Chair of the Group are Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate, former Leader of the Conservatives in the European Parliament, and Clive Betts MP, Chair of the Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities Select Committee.

During the meeting, the Group was briefed by Kamran Iqbal, Founder and CEO of Electric Aviation Group, on the company’s vision to develop the key enabling technologies which form the building blocks for hydrogen fuel cell powertrain to decarbonising the aviation sector. Questions from parliamentarians focused on how joined-up the sector currently is, what other applications there are for the technologies being developed, and what kinds of policies the sector needs from Government to expedite the innovation.

The Group agreed a workplan including a meeting with Baroness Vere of Norbiton, Aviation Minister, and Mike Kane MP, Shadow Aviation Minister, to provide updates on both the Government’s and Opposition’s plans to decarbonise the aviation industry. The Group also agreed to engage with the wider industry and academics who are producing cutting edge research to develop the next generation of hydrogen-powered aircraft.

Kamran Iqbal, Founder and CEO of Electric Aviation Group, said:

“The Electric Aviation All-Party Parliamentary Group provides a vital forum for MPs and Peers to engage with those working to make true-zero aviation a reality, as the only APPG focused exclusively on zero-emission aircraft. I was pleased that those at the meeting were genuinely curious about Electric Aviation Group’s work and understand the scale of the challenge to decarbonise the aviation sector.”

“Too often the conversation around decarbonising the aviation sector focuses on reducing emissions rather than eliminating them entirely. I look forward to continuing to engage with the group as it grows in members and brings more voices from industry into Parliament.”

Sir Paul Beresford MP, Chair of the Electric Aviation All-Party Parliamentary Group, said:

“It is a pleasure to be elected Chair of the Electric Aviation All-Party Parliamentary Group. To achieve the Government’s ambition of net-zero aviation by 2050, it is crucial that Parliament understands the industry that is working to develop the next generation of aircraft. The Electric Aviation All-Party Parliamentary Group aims to do just this, by bringing together Parliamentarians, industry, and academics to participate in an open forum on zero-emissions electric aircraft.”

Notes to Editors:

About Electric Aviation Group (EAG):

Electric Aviation Group (EAG) Ltd., founded in August 2017, is a technology business based in the UK, focussed on developing MW scale hydrogen-electric power and propulsion systems for zero emission transportation applications including aviation, automotive, maritime, rail, off highway plant, etc.

Contact:

Callum Nimmo

Secretariat of the Electric Aviation All-Party Parliamentary Group / Luther Pendragon

EAG@luther.co.uk

07442 612898

Minutes of Annual General Meeting and Election of Officers

Venue and time:

12:00, Tuesday 28th March 2023, Room O Portcullis House

Parliamentarians in attendance:

• Sir Paul Beresford MP, Chair and registered contact
• John Howell MP, Vice-Chair
• Andrew Selous MP, Vice-Chair
• Gavin Newlands MP
• Sharon Hodgson MP

Apologies:

• Alex Sobel MP, Vice-Chair
• Clive Betts MP, Vice-Chair
• Sir Roger Gale MP, Vice-Chair

Secretariat:

• William Gray and Callum Nimmo (Luther Pendragon)

External guests:

• Kamran Iqbal, Chief Executive Officer, Electric Aviation Group
• Tom McCann, SWI Partners

Introductions and welcome:

Sir Paul Beresford began by welcoming fellow parliamentarians to the AGM and re-constitution of the Election Aviation APPG and introduced them to Kamran Iqbal of Electric Aviation Group and the new Secretariat at Luther Pendragon.

Election of officers:

Sir Paul Beresford was elected to be Chair of the re-constituted Electric Aviation APPG. John Howell MP, Andrew Selous MP, and Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate were elected as Vice-Chairs of the Electric Aviation APPG, with Alex Sobel MP, Clive Betts MP, and Sir Roger Gale MP elected as Vice-Chairs in their absence.

Approval of EAAPPG statement of work:

The statement of work, circulated to all Members in advance, was approved by those present. This detailed that the EAAPPG will seek to champion and reinvigorate the UK aviation and aerospace sectors with a view to developing, testing, demonstrating, and commercialising hydrogen electric propulsion systems within this decade. The EAAPPG will provide an open forum for the discussion of new technologies, offering companies across the sustainable aviation sector an opportunity to engage with parliamentarians and UK Government.

Approval of EAAPPG workplan:

The workplan of the EAAPPG was circulated among all Officers in advance of the meeting. The APPG aims to hold one event per quarter. There was a discussion regarding the involvement of more industry partners at the next meeting of the APPG, which was agreed to by all those present. The next event, to be held in May 2023, will be a presentation to parliamentarians by Electric Aviation Group in collaboration with similar companies working on innovative and disruptive aviation technologies.

The next event, to be held in August 2023, will be a presentation by academics on how universities are helping to revolutionise the path to sustainable aviation. Following this, in November 2023, the APPG will invite the Aviation Minister, Baroness Vere of Norbiton, to brief members of the group on the Government’s jet-zero strategy and how current policy helps foster disruptive innovation towards achieving net-zero aviation. Following this, in February 2024, the APPG will invite the Shadow Aviation Minister, Mike Kane MP, to discuss with members Labour’s plans to foster innovation towards developing electric aviation.

The group also agreed that the APPG will provide regular updates and thought leadership related to the electric and sustainable aviation sector, and provide APPGs officers and supporters with briefings in support of their parliamentary activity.

Presentation by Kamran Iqbal, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Electric Aviation Group:

Kamran Iqbal delivered a presentation on Electric Aviation Group’s vision to deliver true-zero aviation. This included the three key enabling technologies which form the building blocks to decarbonising the aviation sector. Questions from parliamentarians focused on how joined-up the sector currently is, which other applications there are for the technologies being developed, and what kinds of policies does the sector need from the Government to expedite the innovation.

Other business:

There was no other business.

Sir Paul Beresford MP thanked his fellow parliamentarians for attending the AGM and the meeting concluded.