HYDROGEN IN AVIATION

The Transformational Potential Of Hydrogen In Aviation

by Chelsea Bailey

As the quest for solutions to tackle the climate impact of aviation becomes more urgent, the focus is moving to the role of hydrogen technologies. To determine the potential of hydrogen in aviation, Birmingham Airport has partnered with ZeroAvia for a new refuelling facility.

Aviation accounts for around 2% of global carbon emissions, which is likely to increase as other sectors become more decarbonised. When it comes to technologies that can help decarbonise the aviation sector, hydrogen has been recognised as a solution.

Initial concepts have been created for Birmingham Airport’s refuelling facility in Solihull, created jointly with ZeroAvia. An area of land with access to the airfield and local road network has been earmarked as a suitable location while on-site solar power is being considered as a source of renewable energy to produce the hydrogen.

Analysis by ZeroAvia suggests a 3 MW hydrogen production facility could produce 365 tonnes of hydrogen annually, therefore it could support 1,250 regional flights and 3,000 buses or trucks per annum.

The next step to get to net zero will be hydrogen

Tom Denton, Head of Sustainability at Birmingham Airport explained that to make hydrogen in aviation a reality, collaboration is key: “ZeroAvia is doing work with the actual aircraft, but they can’t operate the aircraft without an airport. We couldn’t do it without them, and they couldn’t do it without us.”

Hydrogen has great potential for aviation with a specific energy-per-unit mass that is three times higher than traditional jet fuel. If it is generated from renewable energy through electrolysis, it emits no carbon emissions, therefore, it will enable renewable energy to potentially power aircraft over long distances.

Tom revealed that there are other alternatives for aviation to reduce its emissions: “One alternative that aviation has is SAF. It is very attractive to airlines because they don’t need any modification of their aircraft, they just drop this fuel right in. However, it is not zero carbon, there is going to be a stage where you’ve exhausted everything you can achieve with SAF.”

We recognise that hydrogen is not the only solution, but it is part of the overall aviation puzzle towards zero carbon.

Tom Denton Head of Sustainability Birmingham Airport

Planning for the required infrastructure needs to begin now to prepare for the arrival of hydrogen-powered aircraft. This airport infrastructure must be in place by 2025 to meet the expected energy demand.

It will be a challenge to see hydrogen-powered flight become a reality due to the current lack of required infrastructure. On this, Tom explained: “The infrastructure that is in place at airports currently is to supply standard jet fuel, this can be utilised by SAF if there is no change to infrastructure. However, hydrogen will need its own pipework, trucks, and a completely new safety case because it hasn’t been built yet.”

Continuing, Tom said that airports must work out how they can have both SAF and hydrogen-powered aircraft running at the same time: “Airports will have to figure out how they can have standard fuel, whether that be SAF or jet fuel aircraft operating in the airport alongside hydrogen-powered aircraft. They need to ensure that this can take place safely.”

Aviation has a 2050 net zero target to reach

When developing infrastructure for aviation, collaboration will be required to ensure that hydrogen aircraft will operate at multiple airports simultaneously. Tom highlighted that the level of investment needed means that airports will not be able to make these infrastructure changes in isolation: “We will need funding and support from the government because we are doing a lot of work right now, but we can’t fund this ourselves.”

Additionally, the aviation industry will need to partner with other industries to secure enough green electricity and hydrogen to be able to shape the future of the hydrogen economy.

We can’t deliver our net zero commitments on our own. We are confident that we can get around two-thirds of the way there as an airport, but the last third is almost a step into the dark without collaboration

Tom Denton Head of Sustainability Birmingham Airport

Research is also providing to be an important area for the future of the hydrogen economy. Tom revealed that Birmingham Airport has been working with universities: “Collaboration is vital, we have done work with Cranfield University and Keele University on research. Unless we get experts from all different fields involved in this, we won’t get the solution that everybody needs.”

If the aviation industry aims to meet its net zero 2050 target, exploring the transformational potential of hydrogen in aviation is crucial, especially as it is estimated that hydrogen has the potential to reduce the industry’s carbon emissions by up to 50%. Through collaboration, hydrogen will provide aviation with a significant solution in taking significant steps towards decarbonisation.