The Green Future of Aviation: The University of Pécs Joins an International Research Project

The University of Pécs (PTE) is taking part in an international research project seeking answers to one of the most pressing questions about the future of aviation: how can we produce environmentally friendly, synthetic aircraft fuel? The three-year project, titled SUSGREEN, aims to replace petroleum-based fuels with greener alternatives and thereby reduce the ecological footprint of air travel.

Hydrogen plays a key role in this process. Although the Hydrogen Centre at PTE primarily studies hydrogen as an energy carrier – for example, in transport applications or energy storage solutions – the industry most often uses it as a raw material. From fertiliser production and oil refining to margarine manufacturing, numerous industrial processes rely on it.

The issue lies in the fact that the vast majority of hydrogen currently in use is so-called grey hydrogen, produced from natural gas with significant carbon-dioxide emissions. A more sustainable alternative is green hydrogen, which is generated by splitting water using renewable energy sources – however, its share in Europe currently remains below five per cent.

The SUSGREEN project stands out for its aim to integrate as many environmentally friendly technologies as possible into synthetic fuel production. Within this international collaboration – which includes partners from the Netherlands, Greece, Türkiye and Spain – researchers from PTE are investigating the sustainable use of hydrogen, particularly in hydrogenation processes related to fuel production. The project, coordinated by the University of Amsterdam, held its first in-person meeting recently in the Netherlands.

The SUSGREEN project represents an important step towards making sustainable fuels more widespread in aviation. Through their research, PTE scientists are contributing to this joint international effort.

The project No. 2024-1.2.1-HE_PARTNERSÉG-2024-00017 is implemented with the support of the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund of the Ministry of Culture and Innovation, under the 2024-1.2.1-HE_PARTNERSÉG funding scheme.

The photo was taken at the project’s kick-off meeting in Amsterdam. Representatives of the University of Pécs can be seen on the left side of the image.