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Aviation bosses embrace sustainable aviation fuels as path to green flying
(EurActiv, 28 Apr 2021) Two of Europe’s leading aviation companies have argued that scaling up sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) is an essential step to decarbonise flying, as hydrogen is not yet ready to be adopted on a large scale.
“The problem is with its density,” said Eric Trappier, chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, the French manufacturer of military and business jets.
“If we want to carry enough hydrogen in an aircraft, we have to compress it at very high pressures, or liquefy it at very low temperatures,” Trappier said, adding: “The consensus is that hydrogen use may be limited to short and medium range flights.”
Hydrogen can be a zero emission fuel source if made with renewable electricity.
In September, European aerospace giant Airbus said it aimed to develop a commercial airliner by 2035 that can be fuelled by hydrogen, potentially unlocking the prospect of zero-emission air travel.
But hydrogen requires considerably more space than kerosene for an equivalent journey, resulting in larger fuel tanks that leave less room for passengers.
“Experts are claiming that hydrogen is a more cost-effective, easier, and faster to certify than biofuels,” said David Paddock, the president of Jet Aviation, an industry leader in aviation services.
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EurActiv, 28 Apr 2021: Aviation bosses embrace sustainable aviation fuels as path to green flying
