The Future of Aviation:  The Possibility of a Liquid Hydrogen Plane
(Photo : Terry Vlisidis via Unsplash)

The Future of Hydrogen-Powered Aircraft

More and more airlines are beginning to become carbon neutral and lead the world in going green. The biggest hurdle currently is fuel; aircraft need a lot of fuel just to make short flights, let alone flights that take them across the world. 


This is where hydrogen comes into play. Whether it be for a private jet charter, or an entire fleet, hydrogen-powered aircraft are the future with regards to eco-friendly and clean air travel.

Why Hydrogen? 

One of the most significant benefits of using hydrogen is its widely available use. Hydrogen prices aren't affected by world events like fuel is, and it is far easier to find and use. With cleaner energy creation processes becoming more common, creating clean hydrogen is also becoming easier. 

This means that many countries will be able to create their own hydrogen instead of importing fuel, another process that is not eco-friendly in the slightest. Speaking of being eco-friendly, clearly this is where hydrogen will shine. 

While creating and transporting hydrogen will need to be eco-friendly as well, it is far healthier for the environment, and much cleaner than regular aircraft fuel will ever be. 

Zero-Emissions Policies 

While hydrogen power is still far away, airlines have begun the process of becoming carbon neutral. Airlines want to be part of the zero-emissions journey, and as mentioned, many are striving to become world leaders in this regard. 

Airlines are well aware of their impact on the environment, and they also know they have the money and resources to do so. Smaller, private charter companies are potentially further ahead in this process because their fleets are smaller and can implement changes much quicker. 

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Weight Challenges 

One big challenge facing hydrogen power is the weight aspect. Whether in liquid or gaseous form, hydrogen requires special tanks that either keep it at a particular temperature or keep it pressurized. 

These tanks are much bigger and heavier than a standard fuel tank, but developers are already working on ways to create lighter variations. The trick will be finding the balance between weight and storage size, as airlines will not want to refuel more often than they would with regular fuel. 

New Aircraft Designs 

Using hydrogen and hydrogen tanks will likely result in aircraft designs needing to change as well. Regarding interior features, the combination of hydrogen and fuel cells will be discussed later. 

Aircraft that will use hydrogen will need four main aspects to perform. These are the tanks, the fuel cells, a device that controls everything, and a motor to turn a propeller. These pieces of equipment need to go somewhere within the aircraft. 

While the tech will grow and change as the years go by, initially, the changes needed may be more significant than aircraft designers and manufacturers expect. 

Fueling Infrastructure 

The question of fueling infrastructure is quite interesting with regards to aircraft. It would actually be far easier for airports and airlines to implement hydrogen fueling infrastructure simply because you only have to do it on site. 

The other huge plus is the possibility of making hydrogen on-site. Dubai International Airport, for example, is massive and has more than enough space to build its own hydrogen fueling infrastructure and then service multiple aircraft. This aspect of hydrogen fuel is somewhat easier to overcome than others. 

More Research is Needed 

The biggest thing that is needed right now is research. Scientists are working towards finding the best way to store hydrogen, use it, the ideal temperature it needs to be stored, and the safest way to carry it. 

While assumptions and guesses can be made, much more information needs to be discovered before using hydrogen as the sole fuel source. This research could also open up new doors and potentially expose other ways to use hydrogen effectively. 

(Photo: Trnava University via Unsplash)

Ease of Adoption

Finally, the question of adoption; while using hydrogen is the future we want, and the sooner, the better, implementing it will be difficult. As mentioned, new aircraft designs will be needed, new infrastructure built, and hydrogen must be easier and cheaper to acquire compared to regular fuel. 

While there are challenges, many airlines and aircraft designers are set on making hydrogen the future. Therefore the research is moving quicker than you might think, and manufacturers are working day in and day out to create the technology needed to make hydrogen a reality. 

Either way, hydrogen is the future of aircraft fuel. It is much cleaner to use compared to regular fuel and doesn't do nearly the same damage to the environment. Considering the entire world is heading towards cleaner power, aircraft fuel is one aspect that will just follow suit.