How can hydrogen help decarbonize aviation

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Multiple countries are finding hydrogen an achievable option in their decarbonization strategy. The aviation industry is largely resolving to move towards a low carbon economy by 2050.

A sizeable portion of the plans involve investing in innovative technologies and investigate possibilities with electric and hydrogen.

As hydrogen continues to become a more feasible fuel alternative, IECEx will have an important role to play in ensuring safe infrastructure around hydrogen technologies.

Why is hydrogen a good option?

Hydrogen has a much higher energy per unit mass ratio than traditional jet fuel. Potentially clean hydrogen generated with renewable energy sources would be an ideal alternative as it would not involve any carbon emissions. Even hydrogen that involves carbon emissions in production and storage would still cut down the emissions during its combustion to produce energy.

How can hydrogen help decarbonize aviation?

In the aviation sector, hydrogen can play a role on two fronts:

• It can be used to reduce emissions in the air.

• It can be incorporated as an alternative to decarbonize airside ground activities.

Airbus, an industry giant, considers hydrogen to be an important technology pathway leading to their plans of introducing a low-carbon commercial aircraft to market by 2035.

By Airbus's estimates, hydrogen can potentially reduce aviation's carbon emissions by up to 50%. Sabine Klauke, Chief Technology Officer of Airbus, shared, "Together with our partners, we recognise the potential of hydrogen becoming a longer-term decarbonisation pathway for aircraft operations, complementing sustainable aviation fuel, in support of our transition towards net zero by 2050".

Many more are racing towards getting 'hydrogen-ready' flights that use hydrogen to power a flight, either partially or fully.

Are we cleared for take-off yet?

Besides getting the technology market-ready, there are infrastructural challenges with switching to hydrogen as a fuel. Although its energy per unit mass is high, it occupies a large volume. The practical implication is that it requires more storage space. In a commercial flight, provisions will have to be made to have fuel tanks suitable to contain hydrogen, and space to accommodate sufficient gas to fuel short flight distances.

Additional supply, operations and safety infrastructure will have to be built in the different airports that would cater to a hydrogen-powered flight. Furthermore, getting the whole setup ready and the relative price of hydrogen as a fuel in comparison to traditional fuels can be quite cost-intensive.

IECEx for a safe market

Despite its challenges, hydrogen remains a promising strategy to progress upon the road towards decarbonization. As research and technological innovation progresses, standards and testing and certification to comply with government policies will be needed to pave the way for effective commercialization.

IECEx has been helping facilitate quality infrastructure for hydrogen for decades. IECEx oversees compliance with international standards that address hydrogen safety, and its certification continues to be a valuable tool for facilitating hydrogen-related trade at national levels and across international markets.

In a low-carbon economy fuelled by hydrogen, IECEx and its collaborating global organizations will have a vital role to play in carefully navigating the challenges of clean hydrogen production in the future.

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