At the Paris Air Show 2023 in June, Airbus launched its hydrogen fuel cell APU demonstrator, cementing its place at the forefront of innovation in clean hydrogen technologies for the aviation sector. The firm's commitment to the energy transition and clean hydrogen, in particular, has been explicit, underlined by its engagement with the Hy24 clean hydrogen infrastructure fund.
Airbus has been at the forefront of the development of clean hydrogen technology in the aviation sector. Transforming global emissions to meet 2050 net zero targets means finding and quickly finding solutions that will turn jetliners greener. Airbus has therefore committed itself to a number of projects focused not only on complete hydrogen-fuelled propulsion systems but also on hydrogen Auxiliary Power Units (APU) to generate electricity onboard its aircraft. This technology is visionary and would cement the firm's place in the new "hydrogen economy," which has been picking up speed over the last couple of years.
Airbus Pushing Hydrogen Innovation
Back in November 2022, Airbus revealed the development of its ZEROe engine, a hydrogen-powered fuel cell engine that could potentially equip one of the zero-emission aircraft that it plans to enter service in 2035. "Fuel cells are a potential solution to help us achieve our zero-emission ambition and we are focused on developing and testing this technology to understand if it is feasible and viable for a 2035 entry-into-service of a zero-emission aircraft," said Glenn Llewellyn, VP of Zero-Emission Aircraft, Airbus. "At scale, and if the technology targets were achieved, fuel cell engines may be able to power a one hundred passenger aircraft with a range of approximately 1,000 nautical miles. By continuing to invest in this technology we are giving ourselves additional options that will inform our decisions on the architecture of our future ZEROe aircraft, the development of which we intend to launch in the 2027-2028 timeframe."
Airbus has been exploring the possibilities of developing clean hydrogen propulsion systems for some time. It has been working with a number of industry partners to develop concepts with a view to launching its zero-emissions fleet in the mid-2030s. Aerostack, for example, is a joint venture with ElringKlinger, a company with over 20 years of experience as both a fuel cell systems and component supplier. It has also been collaborating with ArianeGroup, an Airbus-Safran joint venture, with whom it has completed testing on a complete system for feeding hydrogen to an aeronautical gas turbine engine.
"These tests will mark a new step in our decarbonization journey and ZEROe program through an ambitious flight demonstration that will take to the air by end 2025," said Michael Augello, CEO of Airbus UpNext. "We want to demonstrate the operability and integration of the system, including refueling the aircraft with hydrogen. We will demonstrate this system in realistic conditions, climbing to 25,000 ft (7,620 m) and flying for one hour with 10 kg (22 lb) of gaseous hydrogen on board. However, we cannot do this alone and our cooperation with the Spanish Government and external partners will be key enablers of these series of tests."
Airbus and Hydrogen Infrastructure
It is no surprise, then, that Airbus was so enthusiastic to join a recently launched clean hydrogen infrastructure investment fund, the world's largest, known as 'The Clean H2 Infra Fund.' Managed by Hy24, a collaborative venture by French investment house Ardian, and FiveT Hydrogen, a clean-hydrogen enabling investment platform, the fund aims to accelerate the build-out of hydrogen infrastructure around the globe while providing financial support to companies, states, and non-profits committed to the development of hydrogen as a clean energy source in the context of the world's climate targets.
"We are delighted that Airbus has joined the fund along with other key industrial and financial investors," said Pierre-Etienne Franc, the CEO of Hy24. "Hy24 is well-positioned to identify and accelerate the development of clean-hydrogen infrastructure companies to meet today's needs and ensure tomorrow's transportation and logistics."
The far-reaching ambitions of the fund are to kickstart and accelerate hydrogen infrastructure as a direct solution to rising global emissions. In the first 12 months, Hy24, with Ardian and FiveT Hydrogen, raised €2 billion from a multitude of partners, each sharing its commitment and vision regarding the potential of clean hydrogen across different sectors. The fund is providing financial capital to back credible, large-scale green hydrogen infrastructure projects. Together with Ardian and FiveT Hydrogen, Airbus' commitment to the project has outlined its firm belief in the scaling up of hydrogen infrastructure around the world, not least in aviation.
"Since 2020, Airbus has partnered with numerous airlines, airports, energy providers, and industry partners to develop a stepped approach to global hydrogen availability," said Karine Guenan, VP of ZEROe Ecosystem, Airbus. "Joining a fund of this magnitude demonstrates Airbus' continuously active role in infrastructure investments for the production, storage, and distribution of clean hydrogen worldwide."
