Within the framework of the Swedish Energy Agency's call "Fossil-free flight 2045", Skellefteå Airport's application has been approved. The application is about developing a test route between Skellefteå Airport and Northvolt One for electrically powered and vertical-starting aircraft, so-called eVTOL. Behind the application is a broad consortium with partners from both academia and the private and public sectors.
The project will investigate and plan for infrastructure, airspace issues, permits, market issues and, from a research perspective, investigate the electrical environment that increased use of electrified aircraft provides at the airport. This creates the conditions for one of the very first test routes in the Nordic region, which will help to shorten the time leading up to commercial traffic with eVTOL in Västerbotten, Sweden and the Nordics.
Through Skellefteå Airport's proactive work with, among other things, the installation of Sweden's most powerful electricity supply for electrified aviation, opportunities are created to quickly get vehicles into the air, both for test and development and for commercial traffic. In addition to Skellefteå Airport, Skellefteå Kraft, Luleå University of Technology, Northvolt, Jonair and ACR also participate in the project with the test route.
In Skellefteå municipality, a major societal transformation is currently underway, with several major industrial establishments contributing to the creation of the green society of the future.
Skellefteå Airport works with the green transformation of the transport sector together with, among others, Skellefteå Kraft, Northvolt, EIT InnoEnergy, Skellefteå Science City and participates in the FAIR project and the Green Airport project.
A major focus is on the development of electric and hydrogen aviation and the provision of fossil-free aviation fuel.
Building a large urban droneport in a subarctic climate is an innovative project with no direct templates or guidelines. After extensive planning, the site is now paved and the buildings are in place, but some work remains before one of Europe’s largest urban drone airports can be inaugurated.
The take-off and landing area and surrounding areas have now been paved with materials that significantly reduce climate impact. By using Asfalt Zero – a climate-smart asphalt made with pine oil – Skellefteå is setting an example for environmentally friendly infrastructure.
It started with an idea on a post-it note two years ago, and by the end of this year, the idea will become a reality. Skellefteå Droneport is one of the first droneports in Europe being built in an urban environment. The Droneport will be a physical space for development, research, education, and commercialization of drone-related solutions.