Greener, hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft are in the pipeline
A COMMERCIAL aircraft that flies without emitting any carbon dioxide. Impossible? Airbus begs to differ.
The French aircraft manufacturer is currently working on something so revolutionary that it will change the commercial aviation industry. The new aircraft will be hydrogen-powered and is among the measures taken to end the industry's dependence on fossil fuel.
THE CONCEPT
For this initiative, Airbus has come up with three zero-emission commercial aircraft, the world's first.
The three concepts, all codenamed "ZEROe", encompass:
• a turbofan design (120-200 passengers) with a range of more than 2,000 nautical miles;
• a turboprop design (up to 100 passengers) with a range of more than 1,000 nautical miles; and
• a "blended-wing body" design (up to 200 passengers) where the wings merge with the main body of the aircraft, which has a range of more than 2,000 nautical miles.
"These concepts will help us explore and mature the design and layout of the world's first climate-neutral, zero-emission commercial aircraft, which we aim to put into service by 2035," said Airbus' chief executive officer, Guillaume Faury.
"The transition to hydrogen, as the primary power source for these concept planes, will require decisive action from the entire aviation ecosystem.
"With support from government and industrial partners, we can rise to this challenge to scale up renewable energy for the sustainable future of the aviation industry," he said.
THE PROJECT
According to Airbus' president for Asia Pacific, Anand Stanley, the company has been eyeing zero-emission planes for the last two decades.
"We have been working on open air mobility, vertical take-off and landing as well as propulsion technologies," he said.
"They are part of efforts in our technological pathway towards zero-emission flights," he added.
According to Stanley, governments around the world are keen to support and accelerate the "decarbonisation of aviation".
The support from governments will be key to meeting these ambitious objectives as there will be a need for increased funding for research and technology.
Mechanisms must also be in place that encourage the use of sustainable fuels and the renewal of aircraft fleets to allow airlines to retire older, less environmentally-friendly aircraft earlier.
"We believe both society and governments are ready for such a vision," he added.
Due to the impact of Covid-19, Airbus is also going through job rationalisations but the company says the on-going R&D initiative is not affected.
"The pandemic has not changed Airbus' ambition to produce zero-emission aircraft by mid-2030," said Stanley.
"Our next step is to take existing concepts and evaluate them. By the mid-2020s and onward to around 2024-25, we will decide on product launches," he added.
CHALLENGES
Putting forth such a "disruptive" concept is indeed challenging.
According to Stanley, the success of the project will depend on the cooperation of numerous parties.
"Even though Airbus has set the vision and taken on the leadership for the decarbonised aviation sector, it is imperative that the industry works together.
"The whole initiative involves engine manufacturers, hydrogen producers and even airports as there are logistics and infrastructure to consider.
"It is also about scaling up the production of hydrogen," he added.
On the safety of such planes, Stanley said that whether in the past, present or future, safety is "non-negotiable".
"The safety standards will be the same as what we currently have in place.
"Hydrogen, specifically as a fuel, is safe if not safer than traditional jet fuel and is non-toxic. It also emits no carbon dioxide, only water and vapour.
"There are a lot of challenges in this initiative. What's vital is that we need to work together to overcome these challenges. By doing so, we can look forward to a great decarbonised future for the next generation," he added.
