Airbus Delays Hydrogen-Powered Commercial Aircraft Project Until Mid-Next Decade
/https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2021/09/Airbus-ZEROe-hidrogeno-aviacionline.jpg)
Airbus announced on Friday (7) that it has postponed its plans to develop a hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft until the mid-2030s, citing slower-than-expected progress in necessary technologies.
The decision marks a setback for the European aerospace giant's ambition to lead the adoption of hydrogen fuel, a goal actively championed by CEO Guillaume Faury since the project’s launch five years ago, according to our partner outlet, Aeroin.
Although Airbus has not set a new timeline for the initiative, the Force Ouvrière union reported that employees were informed last week that the technology is lagging five to ten years behind the pace needed to meet the original 2035 target. French news agency AFP was the first to report on the delay.
Airbus representatives also acknowledged that a hydrogen-powered aircraft—likely a turboprop with around 100 seats—would only make a marginal contribution to the aviation sector’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. However, they argued that the effort would help pave the way for broader adoption in the future.
Aviation Industry Now Relies on SAF for Sustainability
With the hydrogen project on hold, the aviation industry is now primarily relying on Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) as part of its environmental strategy. However, the sector faces supply shortages from energy providers.
Analysts also noted that the ambitious hydrogen project helped ease political concerns about aviation’s environmental impact in certain European countries, while also unlocking crucial funding for the industry during the COVID-19 crisis.
Despite the delay, Faury remains firm in his belief that hydrogen will play a role in aviation’s ecosystem in the coming decades, emphasizing that Europe must take the lead in this transition.
His stance contrasts with Boeing’s more skeptical outlook. At last year’s Farnborough Airshow, Boeing executives raised concerns about the safety and technical feasibility of hydrogen-powered aviation.
Environmental Concerns Persist Over Hydrogen Production
Some environmental groups argue that hydrogen production still carries ecological costs due to the significant energy required for its generation.
The decision to pause the hydrogen project, known as ZEROe, comes just a week after Airbus Helicopters scrapped its plans for the CityAirbus NextGen urban mobility vehicle, also citing uncertainties in battery technology advancements.
Para comentar, debés estar registradoPor favor, iniciá sesión