Writer: Frances K. Ng
 

Electrification of urban transport has progressed significantly over the past decades since almost all countries pledged to reduce carbon emission in the signing of the Paris Agreement. However, this has not been the case with aviation, it has seen more challenges in achieving this goal, owing to technical hurdles in decarbonising long-distance transport. According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), small, hybrid engines for electric aircraft have relatively low efficiency, comparing with conventional large gas turbine engines. Hence, mass utilisation of electric commercial aircraft has not been realised. But the prospect of introducing hydrogen-powered aircraft may be the answer to this major challenge.

First of all, what is hydrogen power, how does it work? Hydrogen power produces electricity for electric motors using fuel cells powered by hydrogen, which are made by combining hydrogen and oxygen atoms. The hydrogen reacts with oxygen across the electrochemical cell to producing electricity, water, and small amounts of heat. Hydrogen-powered airplanes are either equipped with hydrogen-powered fuel cells or with hydrogen-based jet engines, or a hybrid of hydrogen turbines and fuel cells. They have several major environmental benefits, including zero carbon-dioxide emission; and the reduction of climate impact in flight by 50% – 70% via hydrogen combustion, and by 75% – 90% with fuel-cell technology. 

As a result of its environmental benefits, the European Commission (EC) has emphasised that the hydrogen-powered aircraft is a key component of its solution to meet the 2050 climate neutrality goal of the European Green Deal, when it adopted its 2020 European Union (EU) Hydrogen Strategy. According to the estimates of EC, renewable hydrogen technologies will be ready for mass use starting from 2030 — five years before its goal for zero-emission aircraft.

To enable the use of hydrogen-powered aircraft, the related infrastructure—hydrogen hubs—and processes (for storage, transportation, and distribution of hydrogen) also need to be in place. Airports in Paris are undergoing transition into hydrogen hubs through the joint efforts of several companies and a network of airports in France. The hubs are expected to be launched in 2035, to meet EC’s goal for zero-emission aircraft.  The prospective launch of hydrogen-powered aircraft and hydrogen hubs will mark a major milestone in the global progress towards sustainable aviation.

Source:

https://www.eurocontrol.int/article/are-hydrogen-powered-aircraft-future-sustainable-aviation
https://www.world-energy.org/article/15875.html
https://www.westbridge.energy/how-renewables-could-help-the-aviation-sector-decarbonise/
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20180004252/downloads/20180004252.pdf

Image Source:

https://www.aviationtoday.com