Airbus commits to a global concept of sustainable aircraft construction

The European aircraft manufacturer Airbus wants a global concept for the aircraft construction of the future. The objective of this “green operation for the aviation of the future” is the development of hydrogen systems and fuel cell technologies for the aircraft of the future. The necessary infrastructure must also be designed. A first site that can be developed as such is the Hamburg-Finken Airbus site.

Scientists of it Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht (HZG) and the Hamburg University of Technology To go with Airbus know exactly how to do this. Airbus wants to put the first hydrogen-powered aircraft into service in 2035. Hamburg is one of the sites for the construction of Airbus planes.

“In the ‘Green Operation of Future Aviation’ project, for example, the following questions are raised. How to efficiently and economically implement the hydrogen supply to the production site to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions? How can the new products and applications of the plant be supplied with hydrogen? Explains Professor Thomas Klassen. He is the project coordinator and head of the HZG Institute for Hydrogen Technology.

Also interesting: Airbus presents three concepts for the first commercial aircraft without CO2 emissions₂.

According to Hamburg’s Senator for Economy and Innovation, Michael Westhagemann, it is very important to make the sector more sustainable and more environmentally friendly. “In this way, we want to contribute to the achievement of climate objectives and at the same time to emerge from the crisis stronger and more innovative. There is no doubt in my mind that hydrogen plays a vital role in this regard, ”he says.

“ Zero emission aviation ”

“It will be necessary to clarify in which areas hydrogen can be used most judiciously. In production, as fuel in the form of liquid hydrogen for the operation of electronics in the cabin or engines, or for supplying factory halls. At the end of the project, we will have answers to these questions and we will be one step closer to the goal of “zero emission aviation”. ”

The researchers want to prepare a location analysis in Hamburg-Finkenwerder. In doing so, we will examine the other benefits offered by the use of hydrogen and to what extent the demand for hydrogen may increase in the years to come. Then they analyzed “the different hydrogen delivery options, which will certainly change significantly in the years to come”. Hydrogen can be produced locally, as well as imported from Southern Europe, North Africa (Tunisia) and Australia.

Total concept

In addition, the researchers also want to study various storage options. “With a model based on all of these factors, the entire hydrogen supply, including usage, can be optimized from the point of view of costs, energy efficiency and emissions”, summarizes Professor Martin. Kaltschmitt, Director of the Institute for Environmental Technology and Energy Saving, TU Hamburg, together.

Based on the collected results of the project, a long-term overall concept for the development and expansion of the supply and use of hydrogen at the Airbus plant in Finkenwerder should be drawn up at the end.

“Subsequently, the concept developed can be used as a starting point for the development of infrastructure for supplying airports or for companies that build vehicles and ships,” explains Thomas Klassen.

You can find other IO articles on hydrogen here.