The aerospace industry is taking a significant step towards sustainable air travel with the development of hydrogen-powered planes. Airbus ZEROe announced earlier this year that it is working on several hydrogen-powered aircraft models that will be available for commercial use by 2035. Now, the British Aerospace Technology Institute has unveiled its own concept for a hydrogen-powered plane, called Project FlyZero. The mid-sized aircraft is designed to carry up to 279 passengers and can travel from London to San Francisco without stopping.
The plane uses liquid hydrogen stored in a fuel tank at the rear of the fuselage, which is kept at a temperature of -250 degrees Celsius. Two smaller tanks in the front of the aircraft help maintain balance as the fuel tank empties during flight. The developers claim that the plane will offer the same speed and comfort as conventional aircraft, but without emitting any CO2. However, it is still unclear when the concept will become a reality, as more detailed plans for additional aircraft models and a roadmap for technology development are expected to be released in early 2022.
The success of hydrogen-powered planes will depend on the availability of hydrogen in large quantities and at a reasonable cost. The researchers at the Institute believe that hydrogen-powered planes could become a viable alternative to conventional aircraft by 2035, but this will depend on how quickly other sectors adopt hydrogen as a fuel source. The sustainability of the project is also yet to be evaluated. Nonetheless, the development of hydrogen-powered planes is a significant step towards reducing the carbon footprint of air travel and achieving a more sustainable future.
