The project aims to position the regional short-haul airport network in Trøndelag as a natural location for the introduction of zero-emission civil aviation, and Trøndelag County Municipality as an important participant in the National Green Aviation Program.
The National Green Aviation Program has been established by Avinor, the Civil Aviation Authority of Norway, Norsk Industri, and SINTEF, in response to political ambitions that all domestic aviation should be zero-emission by 2040.
Western Norway and Lofoten have already launched their green aviation initiatives and are central participants in the National Green Aviation Program. Technology companies, energy providers, research institutions, and authorities in Trøndelag now wish to establish a corresponding joint initiative in the region.
This project will position Trøndelag’s short-haul airport network as a natural region for the introduction of zero-emission civil aviation, and Trøndelag County as an important participant in the Green Aviation Program.
Extensive preparatory work must be carried out over several years—both in terms of airport infrastructure and the power grid—before scheduled routes for zero-emission civil aviation can be introduced, for example through the new PSO (Public Service Obligation) routes to be procured in 2028–2029.
Systematic efforts are required to investigate the interplay between different zero-emission technologies in aircraft and the infrastructure needed on the ground to enable these technologies as soon as they become available. It is also necessary to analyze efficient land use with local power and hydrogen production at and around airports in Trøndelag, as well as explore zero-emission aerial transport technologies and fuels through the use of autonomous, remotely operated drones.
Knowledge from ongoing initiatives must be consolidated. Several pilot projects in Trøndelag will provide valuable insights, such as Green Flyway in Røros, the strong research and development environment around SINTEF, NTNU, and technology companies like Rolls Royce Electrical and Siemens Energy. The project will also build synergies with sustainability efforts at the military air base at Ørland. The Aviation Forum (NiTR) will also play an important role in the project.
These actors will contribute actively to the project. Furthermore, findings and results must be communicated and discussed continuously, both with regional stakeholders and with the national aviation program.
Green Aviation Trøndelag is initiated by RENERGY – Renewable Energy Cluster, a Mid-Norwegian business cluster working to accelerate the transition to a renewable society. The project will strengthen Trøndelag’s position in the shift towards zero-emission aviation and reinforce Trøndelag’s short-haul network as a potential pilot for further national implementation. RENERGY is applying to Trøndelag County Municipality for funding.
The project also aligns with the objectives of White Paper no. 10 – Sustainable and Safe Aviation and White Paper no. 13 – Climate Action Plan 2021–2030.
Green Aviation Trøndelag aims to achieve the following results and impacts:
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Position Trøndelag’s short-haul airport network as a location for the introduction of zero-emission aviation.
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Facilitate strong coordination between ongoing projects at the regional airports in Trøndelag.
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Define infrastructure requirements at the airports.
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Contribute to regulatory updates enabling approval of new aviation technologies.
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Utilize Trøndelag’s drone expertise for autonomous air transport.
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Launch new, innovative collaboration projects to accelerate the transition to future solutions and sustainable business models within zero-emission aviation.
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Increase knowledge, innovation capacity, new technologies, and sustainable solutions for airports.
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Enhance national and international market opportunities, thereby generating increased value creation and contributing to Norway’s ambitious climate goals.
The main project partners are Trøndelag County Municipality, SINTEF, Avinor, the Civil Aviation Authority of Norway, NTNU, Tensio, and Rolls Royce Electrical.
Report: Roadmap for e-fuels in Trøndelag
The report Roadmap for e-fuels in Trøndelag is part of the project Green Aviation Trøndelag, a project financed by Trøndelag County Municipality. Its purpose is to position the regional short-haul airport network in Trøndelag as a natural location for the introduction of zero-emission civil aviation, and Trøndelag County as an important participant in the National Green Aviation Program.
The roadmap aims to explore opportunities for the production of synthetic fuels in Trøndelag, in order to reduce emissions in the transport sector and support business development in Mid-Norway. The overarching goal is to contribute to Norway’s national climate targets, with a focus on Trøndelag’s unique conditions to contribute in ways that are economically sustainable while also promoting regional business and industry.