- Airbus is pushing back the 2035 it expects to have hydrogen-powered flight.
- This news comes as other aviation companies have shown less confidence in the role hydrogen will play in decarbonising the aviation industry.
Airbus is pushing back the 2035 it expects to have hydrogen-powered flight. This news comes as other aviation companies have shown less confidence in the role hydrogen will play in decarbonising the aviation industry. Just prior to this announcement, several European carriers began to place less emphasis on hydrogen in their goal for a carbon-free future.
While in 2021, a roadmap created by several industry groups communicated that the industry expected hydrogen-powered planes to be responsible for 20 per cent of emission reductions by the year 2050, this figure was recently lowered to just 6 per cent. Part of the reason for this is the challenging nature of introducing such a new technology to the market.
Hydrogen-powered aircraft would require new infrastructure on a wide scale. This is an extensive and expensive addition to an already capital-intensive industry. In addition to introducing new infrastructure, the technology will have to clear plenty of regulatory hurdles before major carriers can begin operating the new aircraft on short-haul flights.
Beyond moving back its expected launch date, Airbus is cutting the budget for its hydrogen initiatives by 25 per cent. Additionally, it officially ended plans to test hydrogen fuel cell engines using a modified Airbus A380 as a test bed.
However, improvements are still being made to improve efficiency and lower environmental harm in the industry. Many other aerospace companies, like Pratt and Whitney, are also harnessing hydrogen to reduce environmental damage.
Meanwhile, the industry has begun to utilize more sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This modified jet fuel is often made from things like crops, excess cooking oil, and other sources that are not fossil fuels. Using more sustainable fuel can also leave up to 70 per cent fewer emissions compared to traditional jet fuel, though the technology is not yet available on a large scale and tends to be more expensive than traditional options.
Despite its limitations, sustainable aviation fuel is increasingly popular, with many major airlines investing in crop-based fuel. United Airlines has continued to sign agreements for further use and has even painted a special livery on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and yet-to-be-delivered 737 MAX 10.
Meanwhile, Air New Zealand just signed an agreement for SAF at San Francisco International Airport, which will power its Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft on long-haul flights. Despite Airbus’ program delay, cleaner techniques are continuing to diffuse across the industry.