Success depends on airport infrastructure and lots of support and incentives from governments to fund developmentAirbus unveiled three designs it is studying to build hydrogen-powered aeroplanes as it races to bring a zero-carbon passenger jet into service by 2035.
Hydrogen is becoming an increasing area of focus for Airbus as it evaluates technologies for emission-free flight. The company is under pressure from the French and German governments, its biggest shareholders, to speed development of new aircraft after aiding the planemaker during the coronavirus crisis. Together, the two countries have committed about€2.5bn towards cleaner propulsion.
In the turbofan design, liquid hydrogen will be stored and distributed through tanks located behind the rear pressure bulkhead, while at the same time hydrogen fuel cells will create electric power that complements the gas turbine. The turboprop will also use modified gas-turbine engines.