Boeing scales sustainability efforts in Asia Pacific with new research centre in Japan

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Image credit: Boeing Australia's Twitter post

Global aerospace company Boeing is launching a new Boeing Research and Technology (BR&T) centre in Japan to promote sustainability and support a new agreement with Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI). 

Located in Nagoya, the new BR&T – Japan Research Centre will boost Boeing’s research and development footprint in the region, which includes facilities in Australia, China, and Korea. 

The new facility will expand a cooperation deal between Boeing and the ministry signed in 2019 to include a focus on sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), electric and hydrogen powertrain technologies, and future flight concepts that will promote zero climate impact aviation. 

It will also explore electric and hybrid-electric propulsion, batteries, and composite manufacturing that will create new innovations in urban mobility. 

“We are excited to open our latest global research and technology centre here in Japan,” said Greg Hyslop, Boeing’s chief engineer and executive vice president of engineering, test, and, technology. 

“Working with terrific partners like METI, the new centre will expand upon Boeing-wide initiatives in sustainable fuels and electrification, and explore the intersection of digitization, automation and high-performance aerospace composites for greater sustainability in our future products and production systems.”

Boeing also signed a collaboration today with its airline customers All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL) to explore advanced sustainable technologies, such as electric, hybrid, hydrogen, and other emerging propulsion systems to cut carbon emissions of aircraft. 

The aerospace giant was recently accepted as a member of Act for Sky, a coalition of companies aimed at commercialising and expanding the use of Japan-produced SAF. The organisation was founded by ANA and JAL, along with global engineering firm JGC Holdings and biofuel producer Revo International. 

 “To ensure the enormous societal benefits of aviation remain available for generations to come, we must continue to partner with capable innovators and leaders to support the industry’s commitment to net zero carbon emissions by 2050,” said Chris Raymond, chief sustainability officer at Boeing. 

“We are humbled to join ACT FOR SKY and collaborate with other members to share global best practices and help with the scale up and demand of SAF in Japan,” Raymond added. 

Image source: https://twitter.com/boeingaustralia