Civil Helicopters News

NHV First Helicopter Operator to Complete Sustainable Aviation Flight

NHV First Helicopter Operator to Complete Sustainable Aviation Flight

NHV completed its first flight using sustainable aviation fuel on October 4, 2022, making it the first helicopter operator in the offshore wind industry to shift to using renewable oil.

The project took place in a partnership with petroleum business company TotalEnergies, which supplied NHV with renewable oil made from waste and residues, such as cooking oil. The fuel is combined with 70 percent traditional jet fuel, allowing for a 27 percent drop in carbon emissions resulting from the flight. The undertaking also marks the beginning of a partnership between the two companies and their commitment towards the long-term use of more energy-efficient fuel for helicopter transport.

“This is a huge milestone for NHV and the industry because it’s the first time sustainable aviation fuel is used to support Offshore Wind,” said Bram De Backer, Vice President of Offshore Wind at NHV Group. “Investing in this kind of fuel is the first step in reducing the overall carbon footprint and making helicopter transportation more environmentally friendly.”

The flight took place at NHV’s headquarters in Ostend, Belgium, and was for an event organized by Belgian electric grid operator Elia. It flew a delegation from Elia and Belgian politicians to Elia’s Modular Offshore Grid, a platform in the North Sea that bundles cables together from offshore wind farms and connects them to the mainland.

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