The introduction of hydrogen-powered planes from 2035 will limit CO2 emissions but not on its own reduce the carbon footprint of the aviation sector, according to a study by the NGO International Council on Clean Transportation ( ICCT) published on Wednesday.
The hydrogen engine does not emit pollution or any greenhouse gases since it produces water vapour.
On the other hand, this assumes that the hydrogen is itself “
clean
”, ie produced by electrolysis of water using electricity from renewable sources (green hydrogen).
Read alsoThe technological challenges of the hydrogen plane
If long-haul flights cannot be powered by hydrogen, in particular because of the volume that would be necessary to store it on board, "
hydrogen aircraft are viable on short and medium-haul flights and could virtually eliminate emissions of CO2
," says the ICCT. These planes, which would have a shorter range than kerosene-burning planes, could represent almost a third of world passenger traffic from 2035, the date scheduled for their entry into service by the aircraft manufacturer Airbus, which has made the plane hydrogen a "
major strategic axis
".
The ICCT looked into two hydrogen-powered aircraft projects: a single-aisle twin-jet A320 class and an ATR-72 regional turboprop aircraft.
The twinjet could carry 165 passengers over 3400 kilometers, covering 71% of the single-aisle market, the turboprop 70 passengers over 1400 kilometers, which represents 97% of its market.
Green hydrogen more expensive than aviation kerosene
The air sector transported 4.5 billion passengers in 2019, producing 900 million tonnes of CO2, or almost 3% of global emissions.
It should double by 2050. If all eligible air routes were served by hydrogen planes in 2050, the latter would reduce air transport emissions by 31%, or 628 million tonnes of CO2.
This would bring the sector's carbon footprint back to its expected level in 2035, when it enters service, notes the study.
Read alsoBertrand Piccard: “I believe a lot in hydrogen vehicles”
"
A less ambitious scenario of adopting 20-40% hydrogen-powered aircraft on these routes would avoid 126-251 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2050, which represents 6-12% of transport emissions. passenger airline
," notes the ICCT.
The study does not include in its scope the other levers expected to reduce the footprint of the sector (technological developments in aircraft, better management of the air traffic control system, introduction of sustainable aviation fuels).
Green hydrogen will be cheaper than future sustainable synthetic fuels but will cost more than aviation kerosene and will therefore require financial support from governments.