Toulouse and Munich, Airbus puts pressure in favor of low-carbon aircraft
“Yes, a hydrogen plane is feasible”, launched the executive chairman of Airbus Guillaume Faury on the first day of a summit organized in Toulouse and Munich, on Wednesday November 30 and Thursday December 1. For two days, the European aircraft manufacturer held a conference to discuss climate issues with partners from all walks of life – the aerospace, energy and automotive sectors. To meet the deadlines, two main paths are taken by the manufacturer. In addition to “sustainable aviation fuels” – Saf (acronym for Sustainable aviation fuel) – which currently suffer from their lack of availability and their prohibitive price (six to seven times the cost of kerosene), Airbus is double bites on hydrogen propulsion.
While the aviation sector, responsible for 2 to 3% of global CO2 emissions, is under pressure to reduce its carbon footprint, Airbus has taken a unique path with its “ZEROe” project for “zero emissions”, launched two years ago. years: a hydrogen plane, which emits no pollution but only water vapour. But it is in the storage and transport on board that it is difficult for hydrogen to reside: it must in fact be liquefied at -253 degrees Celsius and stored in cryogenic tanks which occupy a volume four times larger than those of kerosene.
Technological challenges
“The industry is not doing enough right now to meet its 2030 and 2050 goals,” said the Airbus boss. The technological challenges are “in our hands”. This is probably not the most difficult part of the equation”, added Guillaume Faury, calling for the creation of a regulatory framework to certify these future planes or even allow the storage and transport of hydrogen up to the device. There must also be sufficient production capacity for green hydrogen – produced by electrolysis of water using electricity from renewable sources. “We need green hydrogen in large quantities, in the right place, at the right price. It’s a big concern, ”admitted Guillaume Faury. “Even if the technologies are ready, we take this energy dimension very seriously” and the program could be capable of lack of hydrogen in sufficient quantity.
Multiplication of partnerships
However, the European aircraft manufacturer is taking the lead and increasing partnerships with airlines, airports and energy companies to prepare for the deployment of the infrastructures necessary for the production and delivery of hydrogen. An agreement has been concluded with ArianeGroup for this specialist in liquid hydrogen used for the propulsion of Ariane rockets to install a refueling station at Toulouse-Blagnac airport in 2025 with a view to flight tests.
If hydrogen seems to be the fuel of tomorrow, Airbus does not forget electric propulsion. In Toulouse, he announced a partnership with Renault to produce a new generation of so-called “solid” batteries. The research and development agreement that the two partners have just signed aims in particular to “study the best options for doubling the energy density of batteries by 2030, moving from current chemical cells (advanced lithium-ion) to designs entirely solid”, explain the two groups in a joint press release.
Audrey Sommazi
On the photo: Model of the liquid hydrogen refueling station for ZEROe aircraft, at Toulouse-Blagnac airport, the result of a collaboration between Airbus and ArianeGroup. This station will be operational in 2025. Credits: Airbus.