The future of hydrogen fuel cells in sustainable air travel

Did you know, at current rates, aviation is expected to become one of the largest emitting sectors of carbon dioxide by 2025? The purpose of England’s Jet Zero strategy is to reduce the amount of carbon emissions caused by aviation, with the aim of all domestic flights achieving net zero by 2040.

Here we discuss the benefits of hydrogen fuel cells for sustainable air travel, as well as the challenges involved in the adoption of hydrogen fuel cells as part of sustainable air travel.

6 benefits of hydrogen fuel cells for sustainable air travel

The prospect of using hydrogen fuel cells in sustainable air travel has many benefits compared to traditional combustion engines and battery alternatives.

1. Zero emissions – hydrogen fuel cells produce water and heat as byproducts. In comparison, jet fuel combustion results in CO2 and NOx particles which are harmful to the environment and impact air quality.
2. High specific energy density – hydrogen fuel cells provide much more energy per unit weight than batteries, meaning they’re more suitable for powering larger aircraft which need a lot of energy.
3. Renewable hydrogen production – through electrolysis, green hydrogen can be produced from renewable sources such as solar and wind. This decreases the carbon footprint of air travel.
4. Extended range – hydrogen fuel cells for air travel could offer longer flight ranges compared to battery systems, which is ideal for commercial aviation.
5. Refuelling times comparable to existing infrastructure – hydrogen aircraft can be refuelled in similar times to a conventional aircraft running on jet fuel, compared to batteries that may need to be charged overnight.
6. Reduced noise pollution – hydrogen-electric aircraft operate more quietly compared to conventional jet engines, meaning less noise around airports.

Regulatory support for the use of hydrogen in sustainable air travel

Regulatory support is key for the adoption of hydrogen fuel cells in air travel and for positive public perception of the technology. Here are organisations that cover the topic of hydrogen in the aerospace sector:

The UK Department for Transport, who develop strategic frameworks and policies that promote sustainable aviation technologies, have set out a decarbonisation plan which includes hydrogen fuel cells for air travel.

In the US, the aviation regulator, FAA, have launched a Hydrogen-Fueled Aircraft Safety and Certification Roadmap in preparation for certifying hydrogen aircraft in the US.

European’s aviation regulator, EASA, have also been hosting a hydrogen certification workshop to discuss their own roadmap and approach to safety.

Regulating civil aviation safety in the UK, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) have highlighted that hydrogen propulsion is key to achieving the UK’s jet zero strategy. Off the back of this, the CAA have launched a Hydrogen Challenge programme to enable the CAA to prepare for future hydrogen aircraft as a regulator.

Research and development for hydrogen fuel cell usage in sustainable air travel

Hydrogen fuel cells for air travel are becoming more popular and being tested more and more. Several prototypes and concept aircraft have been developed using the technology, and many major airlines and manufacturers are showing greater interest. Over 290 airlines through the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have committed to goals aimed at achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

UK Research and Innovation has also pledged a budget of £125 million to help with the introduction of electric sub-regional aircraft in the UK. Collaborations, investment and partnerships like this will help to accelerate the adoption of fuel cells for air travel.

Challenges

There are still a few challenges that the industry must overcome to speed up the adoption of hydrogen fuel cells as part of sustainable air travel strategies.

One of the main challenges is the issue of infrastructure development for hydrogen production, storage and refuelling at airports – lots of investment and planning will be required for this at scale

Storage and transport also remain an issue, as hydrogen has a low energy density so high-pressure storage tanks or cryogenic storage solutions will be needed.A study in the UK called NAPKIN was carried out by various entities, that include Heathrow Airport, London City Airport, GKN and Rolls-Royce, and the study concluded that a blueprint of areas of investment are needed in infrastructure to introduce low or zero emission aircraft for short-haul flights.

There’s also the issue of safety concerns – similar to jet fuel, hydrogen is highly flammable, and therefore appropriate safety standards and systems need to be developed and adopted to ensure safe use and handling of hydrogen at airports. It will be essential to address this for public acceptance and regulatory approval, both of which will take time.

Intelligent Energy solutions for sustainable air travel

At Intelligent Energy, we have developed the IE-FLIGHT fuel cell system product line for the aviation sector. With class-leading power densities, IE-FLIGHT is ideal for sub-regional and regional aircraft applications for short-haul flights.

We’re also a major partner in the UK’s Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) funded project, working closely with GKN Aerospace to develop fuel cell powertrains for the £52 million H2GEAR project.

To find out more about the work we’re doing to make sustainable air travel possible, please get in contact with us. Complete our contact form or send us an email at sales@intelligent-energy.com.