Photo: CNN
The future of aviation just got brighter. French aircraft maker Airbus announced plans to test hydrogen fuel technology on a modified version of one of their A380 jets, which had been discontinued last year. The future of zero-emissions commercial flights may soon be realized.
The hydrogen demonstration program is also a partnership between Airbus and CFM International, a joint venture between GE and Safran Aircraft Engines.
The aircraft manufacturer will use an “A380 flying testbed fitted with liquid hydrogen tanks” to trial propulsion technology for a future hydrogen aircraft.
‘Flight laboratory’
Vice president for zero-emission aircraft at Airbus, Glenn Llewellyn, says, “Our ambition is to take this (A380) aircraft and add a stub in between the rear doors at the upper level. That stub will have on the end of it a hydrogen-powered gas turbine.” The YouTube video is uploaded on the official Airbus channel.
Llewellyn adds that the aircraft will also be fitted with hydrogen storage and hydrogen distribution, which will feed the engine with the chemical element.
Llewellyn says that the “flight laboratory” aims to learn more about hydrogen propulsion systems in real ground and flight conditions, which will enable Airbus to pursue its plans for a zero-emission aircraft in just over a decade.
Should there be no disruptions, test flights may take place in 2026. The announcement comes over a year after Airbus introduced three hydrogen-based concepts under the ZEROe banner.
Chief technical officer for Airbus, Sabine Klauke, says, “This is the most significant step undertaken at Airbus to usher in a new era of hydrogen-powered flight since the unveiling of our ZEROe concepts back in September 2020.”
“By leveraging the expertise of American and European engine manufacturers to make progress on hydrogen combustion technology, this international partnership sends a clear message that our industry is committed to making zero-emission flight a reality.”
2.8% of global CO2 emissions are caused by aviation. In addition, commercial airlines’ global fuel consumption of commercial airlines also increased to 95 billion gallons in 2019. These circumstances have compelled the global aviation industry to reduce emissions to half of their 2005 level by 2050.
Now, plenty of air carriers aim to reduce the environmental impact of flying using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). British Airways’ parent company IAG announced plans to use SAF with 10% of its flight in 2030. Last year, United Airlines also completed its first 100% SAF flight.
On the other hand, Airbus sets its eyes on hydrogen, which may reduce aviation’s carbon emissions by 50%.
Chief executive for Airbus Guillaume Faury says, “I strongly believe that the use of hydrogen—both in synthetic fuels and as a primary power source for commercial aircraft—has the potential to significantly reduce aviation’s climate impact.”
Aviation firm ZeroAvia is also developing a 19-seater aircraft that will announce commercial hydrogen-electric flights between London and Rotterdam in 2024.
