<\/p>\n
Airbus has unveiled three visual concepts for \u201czero emission\u201d airplanes to be powered by hydrogen.<\/p>\n
It is the planemaker\u2019s latest effort to draw public attention to its \u201czero-emission\u201d ambitions as European governments push for cleaner technology in their post-Covid recovery plans.<\/p>\n
Airbus has set itself a deadline of 2035 to put a carbon-free commercial aircraft into service, a target engine makers like Safran have described as ambitious.<\/p>\n
The \u201cZEROe\u201d initiative includes concepts for two conventional-looking aircraft: a turbofan jet engine able to carry 120-200 people over 2,000 nautical miles (3,700 km) and a turboprop able to carry up to 100 people for 1,000 nm.<\/p>\n
Unlike normal planes, the engines would be adapted to burn liquid hydrogen stored in the rear fuselage.<\/p>\n
A third proposal incorporates a revolutionary \u201cblended wing body\u201d design similar to one presented in February.<\/p>\n
At the same time, Airbus is working on a demonstrator, with initial results expected in 2021.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe demonstrator will allow us to assess what the most promising architecture is,\u201d Airbus Chief Technology Officer Grazia Vittadini said in an interview.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe see it as applicable to all Airbus products eventually.\u201d<\/p>\n
To meet its 2035 goal, Airbus would need to select technologies by 2025, she said. Other industry executives said such a clean break in propulsion could take until 2040.<\/p>\n
Challenges include finding ways to safely store volatile liquid hydrogen during flight at very cold temperatures. <\/p>\n
Airbus dismissed concerns that hydrogen would be unsafe and has called for massive investment in new energy infrastructure.<\/p>\n
While hydrogen has been discussed since the 1970s, it remains too expensive for widespread use. Proponents say infrastructure investment and rising demand will lower the cost.<\/p>\n
Most hydrogen used today is extracted from natural gas, which creates carbon emissions.<\/p>\n
However, Airbus said the hydrogen used for aviation would be produced from renewable energy and extracted from water with electrolysis. That\u2019s a carbon-free process if powered by renewable electricity, but it is currently more expensive.<\/p>\n
(Reporting by Tim Hepher; Editing by Sam Holmes)<\/p>\n
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