Photo: Géraud Gordias Unsplash.
Hydrogen is positioned as a new option to end polluting fossil fuels used by the aviation sector. Thus, Airbus, Rolls-Royce and the low cost airline easyJetamong other companies, have formed an alliance called Hydrogen in Aviation (HIA) to promote this fuel in the United Kingdom.
And it is that, although there are several options to decarbonise aviation, such as the sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), synthetic fuels or batteries, hydrogen is a very promising alternative fuel option, especially for short-haul aviation.
In fact, it is a more than near future, because Airbus is already developing new hydrogen-powered aircraft with the aim of entering commercial service from 2035 and Rolls-Royce it has already shown that hydrogen could power a jet engine following successful ground tests in 2022.
Rolls-Royce has already tested its cars with hydrogen fuel (Photo: Unsplash)
In addition, many smaller operators are making rapid progress in the development of hydrogen-powered aircraft, notably ZeroAvia and Universal Hydrogen, which They have already conducted flight tests.
Thus, this alliance will work together with the British authorities, who will be in charge of promoting the necessary legislation, in addition to collaborating with financing and infrastructure, with the intention of making the United Kingdom a world leader in hydrogen aviation.
Green fuels as a business opportunity
Green fuels are the future of transportation
But the use of hydrogen, together with the SAF, is not only a way to decarbonize the aviation sector, but also opens up a million-dollar business opportunity for investors. In fact, the construction and commissioning of 32 sustainable aviation fuel production plants in Spain would generate 56,000 million euros in GDP by 2050. In addition to 270,000 jobs, according to a study prepared by PwC for Iberia and Vueling.
However, it would be necessary to invest some 22,000 million euros until 2050 for the joint development of the plants. Although the profit potential is enormous, since by installing these production plants, Spain could produce up to 52 million tons of SAF by 2050, 7.2 of them in the form of biofuel and 55.1 of synthetic fuel.
Thus, and taking into account that in Spain only 5.2 million tons would be needed, 2.6 million tons of each type, as foreseen in the European initiative ReFuelEU Aviation, our country could become one of the major exporters of green fuels.
2023-09-06 10:53:34
#Hydrogen #horizon #aviation
