Ryanair Extends Trinity College Sustainable Aviation Research Partnership
Ryanair has extended its partnership with Trinity College Dublin (TCD) out to the end of the decade as the airline makes a further €2.5m donation (€4m total) to fund the Ryanair Sustainable Aviation Research Centre.
Underpinned by an initial €1.5m donation from Ryanair, Research at the Ryanair Sustainable Aviation Research Centre started in September 2021 addressing the complex challenge of progressing sustainable aviation. With Ryanair’s extended funding, the multi-disciplinary research team will continue to focus on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and zero-carbon aircraft propulsion systems as well as expand the scope of the research to examine aviation’s non-CO2 emissions.
Over the past 3 years, the Ryanair Sustainable Aviation Research Centre has made significant research developments in the following core areas;
- examining the sustainability of different SAF types
- reducing the cost of certifying new SAF candidates
- evaluating the operating impact of zero carbon aircraft propulsion and noise mapping
Results of this research, which have been presented at the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, show that the emission intensity of a passenger travelling on a Boeing 737-800 NG flight from Amsterdam to Dublin can be reduced by 43% by using a 50% SAF blend. This could be further reduced by using the Boeing 737-8200, which is 16% more fuel efficient than the 737-800 NG.
Ryanair’s Director of Sustainability, Thomas Fowler, said: “Progressing towards our ambitious sustainability goals of Net Zero by 2050 and 12.5% SAF by 2030 will not be possible without continued support for the best-in-class research that is being done by the Ryanair Sustainable Aviation Research Centre at Trinity College Dublin. Expanding out the research to better understand the non-CO2 impacts from aviation is an important next step to lead our industry towards more sustainable aviation.”
Dr Linda Doyle, Provost and President of Trinity College Dublin said: “Research must be central to combating climate change and promoting sustainable transport. Trinity is now recognised as the 14th best university in the world in delivering the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and has become a go-to international destination for sustainable aviation research. I want to thank Ryanair for their support: It is good news for the researchers in the Centre and for the students who will benefit from the teaching arising from the research.”
Professor Sinéad Ryan, Dean of Research at Trinity College Dublin, said: “Advancing sustainable aviation presents a complex challenge, which requires the multidisciplinary approach we take here in Trinity. Ryanair’s continued support will help to ensure ongoing and new research projects deliver a number of improvements and innovations, as well as supporting interactions with regulators, policy makers and aircraft manufacturers in the pursuit of more economically and environmentally sustainable commercial aviation.”
Main photo: Thomas Fowler Director of Sustainability and Finance Ryanair, Sinead Ryan Dean of Research, Trinity College Dublin and Steven Fitzgerald Deputy Director of Sustainability and Finance, Ryanair.
About the Author
Mark Dwyer Mark is an airline pilot flying the Boeing 737 for a major European airline. In addition he is also a Type Rating Instructor, Type Rating Examiner and Base Training Captain on the B737. Outside of commercial flying Mark enjoys flying light aircraft from the smallest 3 Axis microlights up to heavier singles. He is also an instructor and EASA Examiner on single engines and a UK CAA Examiner. He flies the Chipmunk for the Irish Historic Flight Foundation (IHFF). Mark became the Chairman of the National Microlight Association of Ireland (NMAI) in 2013 and has overseen a massive growth in the organisation. In this role he has worked at local and national levels. In 2015, Mark won ‘Upcoming Aviation Professional Award’ at the Aviation Industry Awards sponsored by the IAA. Mark launched this website back in 2002 while always managing the website, he has also been Editor and Deputy Editor of FlyingInIreland Magazine from 2005 to 2015.
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