Presentation of the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Aviation Award (SMBRGAA) in Montréal to DLR
Leon Müller (DLR Institute of Air Transport, second from left) accepted the first prize on behalf of DLR in Montréal in the category “Research Institutions – Accelerating the Development and Deployment of SAF Solutions”. The award was presented by H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri (UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority, GCAA), H.E. Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi (Director General of the GCAA) and Juan Carlos Salazar (Secretary General of ICAO) during the 42nd Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Presentation of the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Aviation Award (SMBRGAA) in Montréal to DLR
Leon Müller (DLR Institute of Air Transport) accepted the first prize on behalf of DLR in Montréal in the category “Research Institutions – Accelerating the Development and Deployment of SAF Solutions”. The award was presented by H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri (UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority, GCAA), H.E. Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi (Director General of the GCAA) and Juan Carlos Salazar (Secretary General of ICAO) during the 42nd Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Award for a cost-benefit analysis on the targeted use of SAF
The German Aerospace Center (DLR) received first place in the “Research Institutions” category of the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (SMBR) Global Aviation Award during the evening reception hosted by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as part of the 42nd ICAO Assembly. The award recognises DLR’s research on the targeted use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) at Copenhagen Airport conducted within the EU-funded project ALIGHT. The SMBR Award Programme honours outstanding contributions to aviation, with a particular focus on sustainability and innovation.
Award-Winning Research: Targeted Use of SAF
The award-winning publication examines how Sustainable Aviation Fuel can be deployed most effectively, using Copenhagen Airport as a case study1. The study compares different allocation strategies and assesses their climate impact and economic feasibility. The findings show that a targeted allocation of SAF to specific flights with high non-CO2 effects can deliver significant benefits: Up to 60 kilotonnes of CO2-equivalents could be saved annually, resulting in an economic net benefit of around €2.2 million. This research provides an important contribution to the discussion on efficient strategies within the European ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation, which stipulates a 70% SAF share by 2050.
SMBR Global Aviation Award-winning Cost-benefit Analysis
The targeted use of SAF on high-climate-impact flights at Copenhagen Airport could generate a net benefit of €2.2 million in 2030. However, achieving this would require adjustments to existing SAF utilisation and carbon pricing regulations, as well as additional infrastructure and operational efforts (e.g. refuelling systems and services).
Interdisciplinary DLR Research for Climate-Compatible Aviation
Several DLR institutes contributed to the award-winning publication: the DLR Institute of Air Transport, the DLR Institute of Atmospheric Physics, and the DLR Institute of Combustion Technology. Through close collaboration between experts in air transport economics, emissions modelling, climate research, and fuel assessment, the team developed an integrated analysis combining economic modelling, emission and climate impact assessment, and technical logistics models for refuelling processes. This holistic approach enabled a comprehensive evaluation of the potential of targeted SAF deployment and led to scientifically sound policy recommendations.
The SMBR Global Aviation Award
Launched in 2016, the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Aviation Award is presented every three years in cooperation with ICAO. It symbolises international recognition and visibility in sustainable aviation research. With a total value of USD one million, the award honours organisations, universities, and individuals who advance international aviation through their achievements.
The 2025 edition focused on sustainable development, particularly on solutions for the use of sustainable aviation fuels. In the “Research Institutions” category, DLR received the first prize, while universities from Brazil, the USA, and Kazakhstan were recognised in the academic categories. The research institutions category is not endowed with prize money—its emphasis lies on scientific excellence and contributions to a climate-compatible aviation future.
1Müller, L., Kumar, S., Grimme, W., Maertens, S., Eichinger, R., Enderle, B., Weder, C., Dahlmann, K., Grewe, V., “Targeted Use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel at Airports for Climate Mitigation: A Cost-Benefit Perspective”, 2025.
