Hydrogen: The Future of Aviation or Just Another Colorful Con?
So, the aeronautical sector is at a crossroads, debating whether to embrace good ol’ jet engines or dive headfirst into the sparkling waters of electric propulsion. Wait, it gets better: should they use liquid hydrogen, gaseous hydrogen, or does it really matter if it’s pink, blue, or even polka-dotted? Grab your popcorn; this is going to be a ride!
Roll Out the Hydrogen Carpet!
According to a scintillating report from IDTechEx—entitled “Sustainable Aviation 2025-2045: Trends, Technologies, Forecasts”—hydrogen fuel could be fluttering its pretty wings in the aviation arena, with a whopping $20 billion stake by 2045. That’s right, folks, this isn’t your grandma’s bingo night; this is massive! But hold your horses; before we start celebrating like we’ve just won the lottery, let’s drill down to the nitty-gritty.
Let’s Talk Turkey—or, Err, Hydrogen!
James Jeffs, Principal Technology Analyst at IDTechEx, has thrown some cold water on our hydrogen party. He suggests we might need to be more discerning than a Michelin-star chef when deciding on our aircraft propulsion systems. If we implement it wrong, we might be sprouting wings that are even *more* harmful to the environment than our current fossil-fueled birds. Crikey, who saw that plot twist coming?
Three’s a Crowd—but We Need All Three Choices
Jeffs outlines three fundamental aspects that need answering before we strap ourselves into our hydrogen-powered chariots:
- Engine Style: Will we adapt traditional engines to guzzle hydrogen, or jump on the electric propulsion bandwagon?
- Storage Sensitivity: Should we cozy up with cryogenic liquid hydrogen or get our hands dirty with pressurized gaseous hydrogen?
- Color Conundrum: And what about the “color” of hydrogen? Trust me, it’s not just a fashion statement!
Messing up any of these choices could lead to a greenwashing nightmare; those lovely green aircraft could end up being more like the Grinch: all jolly on the outside but a complete environmental disaster on the inside!
Internal Combustion vs. Fuel Cells: The Boring Debate
Now, let’s settle in for the showdown: Hydrogen internal combustion engines (H2ICE) might strut their stuff like the rock stars of the engine world for big names like Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce—easy to adapt, straightforward, and familiar. However, they’re like that aging pop star who refuses to evolve. Fuel cell-based electric powertrains are the rising stars, offering 50% more range with the same hydrogen and a carbon footprint that shrinks like a poorly washed T-shirt. Who wouldn’t want that?!
Volume and Versatility: A Tale of Two Hydrogens
Let’s tackle hydrogen’s party-pooper issue: low volumetric energy density. It’s lighter, but it takes up more space! Liquid hydrogen? Sure, it’ll give you the best range, but you’ll need to play Elsa and keep it at some seriously frosty temperatures. Gaseous hydrogen? More manageable, but you might find yourself in a toddler-sized tantrum trying to cram it into your aircraft.
The Color of Our Future
Now, onto the colorful side of hydrogen. Most of today’s hydrogen is gray or black—uh oh! That’s right; it emits a ton of CO2 during production like a teenager during a mood swing. Green hydrogen, made from renewable sources, and blue hydrogen, which cleverly captures emissions, could be heroes in this tale. However, hold onto your wallets because both are as pricey as a premium bottle of bubbly, and airlines may want to rethink their ticket pricing strategies!
The Final Verdict: A Rocky Road Ahead
So there you have it! Hydrogen seems like a shiny path toward decarbonizing aviation, but it’s paved with complexities and challenges. Aeronautical companies, engine makers, and airlines are left holding the bag of choices and decisions, and God knows there’s nothing more daunting than a bag filled with weighty decisions while flying at 30,000 feet!
As the aviation world takes to the skies in search of sustainability, let’s hope it doesn’t end up on an expensive detour or worse—turn into a tale of hydrogen hubris! Until next time, keep your seat belts fastened, and may your flights be filled with laughter rather than carbon emissions!
The aeronautical sector must consider whether to adapt traditional engines or have electric propulsion systems with fuel cells; use liquid or gaseous hydrogen, and even its “color”
According to the IDTechEx report, “Sustainable Aviation 2025-2045: Trends, Technologies, Forecasts,” hydrogen fuel will likely be a key competitor in decarbonizing the aviation industry, as its usage will exceed $20 billion ( million) in 2045.
However, James Jeffs, Principal Technology Analyst at IDTechEx, explained that before the industry can celebrate a significant reduction in carbon emissions, he said it is crucial to carefully consider the technology used in aircraft and the source of the hydrogen.
“If not implemented correctly, hydrogen-powered aircraft could be more harmful to the environment than current fossil fuel-powered aircraft,” he said.
The manager explained that companies in the aeronautical sector must consider three fundamental aspects for the development and operation of commercial aircraft powered by hydrogen: deciding whether they should use traditional jet engines adapted to run on hydrogen or electric propulsion systems with fuel cells; whether they should use cryogenic liquid hydrogen or pressurized gaseous hydrogen, and even the “color” of the hydrogen.
Jeffs stated that these decisions will affect the carbon footprint, the range of the aircraft and their ability to replace routes currently operated with fossil fuel. “Making the wrong decisions at every stage could result in hydrogen aircraft becoming a mere greenwashing strategy.”
*Hydrogen internal combustion vs fuel cells*
Hydrogen internal combustion engines (H2ICE) will likely appeal to engine suppliers such as Pratt & Whitney, General Electric and Rolls-Royce, as their designs closely resemble current turbine engines.
However, these engines will not be as efficient as fuel cell-based electric powertrains, which offer 50% more range with the same amount of hydrogen and a 33% smaller carbon footprint if a fuel source is used. non-carbon neutral hydrogen.
*Liquid hydrogen vs pressurized hydrogen*
The main challenge of hydrogen is its low volumetric energy density. Although it is lighter than conventional fuel, it takes up much more space, which means it needs to be compressed or liquefied.
Liquid hydrogen is the option that offers the best autonomy, but requires keeping it at extremely low temperatures, which would complicate its storage and handling both in airports and on airplanes.
*The “color” of hydrogen*
Most of today’s hydrogen comes from gray and black sources, which emit large amounts of CO2 during their production. Viable options to reduce emissions are green hydrogen, produced by electrolysis of water with renewable energy, and blue, which captures carbon emissions during its production.
However, both are significantly more expensive than gray and black hydrogen, posing a challenge for airlines that could face increases in costs or ticket prices.
“While hydrogen represents a realistic path toward decarbonizing aviation, its implementation comes with significant challenges. Aeronautical companies, engine manufacturers and airlines will need to make complex decisions about propulsion technology, hydrogen storage status and its source,” Jeffs concluded.
