Hydrogen aircraft: Agreement signed between Airbus and Milan airports
Milan Linate and Malpensa airports are part of Airbus’ plan to launch the first hydrogen-powered green aircraft by 2035.
Is sustainable aviation coming soon? Airbus and Sea, the company that manages the Milan airports of Linate and Malpensa, signed an agreement in mid-February, aimed at the production and distribution of hydrogen in Milan airports. Lombardy thus becomes an integral part of the green air transport plan of the colossus of aeronautics which aims to take off by 2035 the first zero emission (ZEROe) aircraft powered by hydrogen.
A demonstrator flight should take place in 2025 with an A380 equipped with a liquid hydrogen tank.
Liquid hydrogen has three times the density of the kerosene used today. It requires less fuel to complete the same route, which would represent an energy saving of 65 to 70% compared to a normal aircraft. Also, the new technology will reduce air pollution at high altitudes by at least two levels compared to current values.
Milan airports, on the runway to welcome zero-emission planes (ZEROe)
In Italy, hydrogen production should take place in the future “hydrogen valley” that the sea intends to develop around Malpensa given the availability of space. Linate should be for distribution only.
But for the same propulsion power, liquid hydrogen takes up much more space than kerosene. In addition, the hydrogen, obtained by electrolysis of water, will have to be produced in a clean mode. The project therefore involves a whole production chain to be built and airport infrastructures to be modified.
While waiting for the 2035 deadline, Airbus is counting on alternative fuels to reduce the carbon footprint of its aircraft.
Towards the decarbonization of airspace
A few weeks, the SEA company is also part of the Olga (Holistic Green Airport) project, funded by the European Union and focused on environmental innovation with a view to decarbonizing the airspace. The new project is coordinated by Paris-Charles de Gaulle in France, and also sees the participation of Zagreb airport in Croatia and Cluj in Romania.