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Explainer: Will Airbus’ hydrogen-powered aeroplanes change the aviation industry?

SINGAPORE — Airbus is aiming to take the world’s first hydrogen-powered commercial plane into the skies by 2035 and has revealed three aeroplane designs that it is considering.

Airbus has revealed three hydrogen-powered aeroplane designs that it is considering.

Airbus has revealed three hydrogen-powered aeroplane designs that it is considering.

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  • Airbus believes that hydrogen technology can potentially cut aircraft emissions by half
  • While hydrogen is a clean fuel whether it is green depends on the carbon footprint of the fuels used to produce it.
  • Airfares for hydrogen-fueled flights will remain “competitive”, says Airbus

 

SINGAPORE — Airbus is aiming to take the world’s first hydrogen-powered commercial plane into the skies by 2035 and has revealed three aeroplane designs that it is considering. 

On Monday (Sept 21), the European planemaker revealed concept designs for three aircraft models. This includes a turbofan jet with a passenger capacity of 200 that can fly 2,000 nautical miles (3,700km) without refuelling and a blended-wing body with 200 seats.

A concept design for a hydrogen-fueled propeller plane, which would seat about 100 passengers, was also revealed.

TODAY explains how such technology works, what it will mean for air travel and the environment, and what the challenges are in the use of hydrogen. 

HOW IS HYDROGEN USED TO POWER AN AEROPLANE?

Hydrogen is abundant in the environment and reacts with oxygen to form water and release energy.  

According to the United States Department of Energy, 1kg of hydrogen gas releases the same amount of energy as 2.8kg of gasoline. 

A hydrogen-powered aircraft uses hydrogen gas as the power source and the gas can be burned in a jet engine. 

But unlike most aircraft, which use wings for storing fuel, hydrogen aircraft are usually designed with the hydrogen fuel tanks carried inside the fuselage. 

This is due to the highly volatile nature of hydrogen and the need for cylindrical-shaped storage tanks for thermal efficiency. 

WILL THIS REDUCE THE IMPACT THE AVIATION INDUSTRY HAS ON THE ENVIRONMENT?

Speaking to regional media on Tuesday, president of Airbus Asia-Pacific Anand Stanley said that besides producing zero emissions, hydrogen is also lighter than jet fuel by “three to four times”. 

“This is a promising technology that ticks all the boxes — it is safe, versatile, lightweight, storable… and its energy density is three times superior to (that of) jet fuel,” he said. 

While hydrogen is a clean fuel that emits only steam, whether it is green depends on the carbon footprint of the fuels used to produce it.

Responding to TODAY’s queries, a spokesperson for Singapore Airlines (SIA) said that the national carrier is unable to comment on its interest in the Airbus proposals, as “these are still concepts”.

“Generally, SIA is always interested in learning more about new and emerging technologies that could help to effectively and safely reduce carbon emissions,” the spokesperson added.

France and other European countries are investing billions of euros in the development of green hydrogen — hydrogen produced by a renewable source — with the highly polluting transport industry a prime area for its intended use.

Airbus said on Monday that the development of decarbonised hydrogen fuel is a "priority axis of development" for the manufacturer. 

Commercial planes generate up to 3 per cent of the world's emissions of carbon dioxide, the main driver of climate change.

Airbus believes that hydrogen technology can potentially cut aircraft emissions by half.  

This new development is one of several thrusts by aeroplane manufacturers to develop zero-emissions technology. 

Separately, Boeing last year showcased two electric-powered vertical take-off and landing aircraft. 

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES OF PUSHING THIS TECHNOLOGY FORWARD? 

A major challenge cited by Mr Stanley is the infrastructure needed to support such aeroplanes in the long term, including storage facilities for hydrogen at airports. 

He pointed out, however, that such infrastructure would be “very achievable”. 

“One of the advantages we see with hydrogen is that it can compliment existing infrastructure at most airports,” he said.  

For example, Airbus has already started working with airlines and airports on the concept of the "airport hydrogen hub". 

The plan includes using hydrogen to decarbonise all airport-associated ground transport such as heavy goods logistics, buses, tow trucks over the next 10 years. 

Beyond airports, Mr Stanley said that the bigger challenge will be the oil and gas transport networks as well as the international regulations behind the storage and use of the gas. 

“We will only be able to scale up if energy companies, governments and regulators are fully in the partnership,” he said. 

Another challenge faced is that hydrogen — while lighter than jet fuel — requires about four times the storage space of kerosene for the same energy content and will require major redesign of aircraft. 

“As we go through the concept phase, we have to look at designs that manage this volume by either making the fuselage wider or making the fuselage longer,” said Mr Stanley. 

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR PASSENGERS?

While the changes to aircraft design will be radical, safety will remain a priority for the manufacturer. 

“The safety standards will be the same as what we have today. We find hydrogen specifically as a fuel to be safe and non-toxic.

“It is as safe, if not safer, than traditional fuels,” said Mr Stanley.  

As for how the use of hydrogen will affect flight range, Airbus said that the new concept planes will have a shorter range compared with Airbus’ current commercial fleet. 

An Airbus A320, for example, can travel over 6,000km, while the hydrogen-powered designs can travel only about 3,700km. 

Asked about the effect on airfares, Mr Stanley said that while he cannot yet comment on the numbers, he added that “the cost base (and) the operational base has to be competitive and remain competitive”. 

Related topics

Airbus hydrogen-powered planes carbon emissions pollution environment air travel

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