Canada launches Sky’s the Limit Challenge offering cash prizes for biojet development

In Canada, the Minister of Natural Resources issued a nationwide challenge to Canadians to develop the cleanest, most affordable and sustainable aviation fuel for the aviation sector to further reduce its carbon footprint and fight climate change.

The Sky’s the Limit Challenge stimulates the development of sustainable aviation fuel supply chains so that the Canadian aviation industry can further reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and lower the flying public’s environmental footprint. While the Canadian aviation sector has made significant investments in a fuel-efficient fleet, other measures such as sustainable aviation fuel will be required to achieve industry targets of carbon-neutral growth by 2020 and a 50 percent reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050.

The Challenge consists of two competitions open to a range of innovators and includes significant prize money:

First, the Green Aviation Fuels Innovation Competition provides C$2 million apiece for four teams who develop the most innovative solutions, which, in turn, will support their next endeavor: an 18-month competition to produce the most economical and environmentally sustainable aviation fuel and win the $5-million grand prize; and

Second, the Cross-Canada Flight Competition, where the first participant to fuel a Canadian commercial flight using a minimum 10 percent blend of made-in-Canada biojet fuel will win C$1 million.