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The aviation sector is becoming increasingly aware of its environmental responsibilities, and is looking for alternatives to reduce its CO2 emissions. Today, hydrogen is emerging as a serious option for the future of fuels. From the advantages and limitations of this neo-fuel, to AirBus' ZEROe project, Stracker tells you all about hydrogen's future prospects.
In our recent article on decarbonizing the airline industry, we mentioned Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) as the most promising short- and medium-term alternative for a decarbonized sky. In addition to emitting 30 to 60% less CO2 than their fossil fuel counterparts, SAF can be perfectly integrated into today's aircraft engines, which is not the case with hydrogen.
Although they have significant advantages, it's important to note that FAS are not a perfect solution. Firstly, their production depends on biomass: a renewable, but not infinite, resource. What's more, the use of biomass by the aerial sector is restricted by its use by the agricultural sector.
What's more, although SAFs considerably reduce emissions compared with kerosene, they are not totally carbon-free. Some greenhouse gases remain, albeit in smaller quantities.
It is for these two main reasons that hydrogen appears to be the most appropriate solution for putting an end to the ecological problems of the air transport sector.
Firstly, greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by 90% compared with conventional fuels. What's more, hydrogen is a gas present in the universe in unlimited quantities. It is found everywhere and can be used in many different forms.
Hydrogen, while promising, is not an immediate solution. Technological advances are still essential before it can be used.
In fact, using hydrogen to power aircraft requires a much greater quantity of fuel than kerosene. Consequently, tanks with a capacity 4 to 6 times greater are needed to store it.
What's more, although hydrogen does not contribute to global warming, one concern is its potential impact on air quality in the event of large-scale deployment of this technology.
However, it's important to stress that these concerns are in no way comparable to the challenges posed by conventional fuels. Hydrogen today appears to be the most ambitious promise for greener aviation in the years to come.
Launched in 2020, ZEROe is an ambitiousAirBus project aimed at bringing the first hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft to market by 2035.
By using hydrogen fuel cell technology to power the aircraft, this ambitious project aims to significantly reduce the environmental impact of aviation by eliminating carbon emissions during all phases of flight.
Airbus has already unveiled three ZEROe aircraft concepts, each offering a different approach to achieving this goal of sustainability and decarbonization of the aviation industry.
The first aircraft, a "Blended-Wing Body", is the most disruptive and innovative of the project. It is a flying wing-shaped aircraft, designed to maximize aerodynamic efficiency, minimize drag and optimize fuel storage. The aircraft would have a capacity of around 200 passengers.
The other two aircraft, with Turboprop and Turbofan engines, are more conventional projects, powered by propeller engines that accept liquid hydrogen.
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Until the projects reach a certain technological maturity, the usual A380 MSN1 will play the role of demonstrator from 2025, to test the various evolutions of the ZEROe project.
It will carry four tanks of liquid hydrogen at the rear, and a hydrogen combustion engine along the fuselage. A distribution system will convert the liquid hydrogen into gas to power the propulsion engine.