VoltAero Hybrid-Electric Aircraft Makes Landmark Flight Fueled by Wine Waste

The company flew its proprietary hybrid-electric powertrain on a demonstrator powered by biofuel produced from vineyard waste.

Jack Daleo

Friday, September 22, 2023 at 02:43 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

VoltAero achieved an industry first by successfully flying a hybrid-electric aircraft powered entirely by sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) derived from French vineyard waste.
This pioneering flight demonstrated significant CO2 reductions (65-80%) compared to fossil fuels, validating VoltAero's hybrid-electric powertrain and advancing aviation's decarbonization goals.
VoltAero is developing a family of Cassio hybrid-electric aircraft (330, 480, 600) for various applications, leveraging this technology to replace traditional aviation fuels and lower operating costs.

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According to researchers at the University of California-Davis Department of Food Science and Technology, the equivalent of 3 in 10 grapes initially collected for winemaking end up going to waste. Most aviation companies would see that statistic and think nothing of it.

Royan, France-based VoltAero isn’t most aviation companies. The firm on Thursday announced it completed what it claims is an industry first. This week, it flew a hybrid-electric aircraft powered entirely by sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from partner TotalEnergies Aviation—fuel derived from bioethanol produced from the waste created by French vineyards.