NATHAN MILLECAM - ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEMS
PAUL EREMENKO
CO-FOUNDER & CEO, UNIVERSAL HYDROGEN A modular revolution Universal Hydrogen’s first product is a conversion kit for existing ATR72 and De Havilland Canada Dash-8 aircraft to fly on hydrogen. It includes a fuel cell electric powertrain and lightweight, modular hydrogen capsules transported directly to the aircraft. The company’s vision is “to build a global hydrogen distribution network that delivers green hydrogen to any commercial airport in the world at a cost far below that of jet fuel.”
I like to analogise our business model to the Nespresso coffee model. We’re not a hydrogen producer. We buy the hydrogen in the same way Nespresso doesn’t grow their coffee, they buy the coffee. They use the existing freight network to deliver that convenient form factor to the end user. We do exactly the same thing. Green hydrogen: cost-effective and environmentally friendly Green hydrogen's cost has been decreasing exponentially due to falling renewable electricity costs, while its production volume has been increasing. Eremenko foresees a further cost decline in green hydrogen production and believes it will reach price parity with jet fuel by the mid-2020s even without subsidies.
Betting on hydrogen instead of sustainable fuels
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Eremenko challenges the industry’s reliance on Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs), advocating for a transition towards hydrogen. Despite SAFs being a current viable option, he argues that hydrogen's inherent sustainability outperforms SAFs, especially for future single-aisle aircraft. He also discusses alternatives like ammonia mixtures for longer flights.
Starting small, building momentum: hydrogen-powered planes as trailblazers Universal Hydrogen is initiating smaller aircraft conversions to showcase hydrogen's potential. Eremenko believes these small-scale hydrogen planes will set the stage for larger-scale adoption. Their successful test flight of the Dash-8 'Lightning McClean' demonstrates the viability of hydrogen-powered aviation and acts as a precursor for future developments.
Strategic collaborations: fostering partnerships for technological advancements Eremenko emphasises Universal Hydrogen's focus on perfecting hydrogen technology rather than manufacturing aircraft. Their approach involves collaboration with major aircraft manufacturers such as Airbus and GE Aerospace. This collaborative model mirrors the partnerships between app developers and tech giants, ensuring a comprehensive integration of hydrogen into future aircraft designs.
Listen to the full interview with Paul Eremenko 25
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