Airbus will start ground and flight testing this fuel cell engine architecture onboard its ZEROe demonstrator aircraft towards the middle of the decade. The A380 MSN1 flight test aircraft for new hydrogen technologies is currently being modified to carry liquid hydrogen tanks and their associated distribution systems. 

"Fuel cells are a potential solution to help us achieve our zero-emission ambition and we are focused on developing and testing this technology to understand if it is feasible and viable for a 2035 entry-into-service of a zero-emission aircraft," said Glenn Llewellyn, VP Zero-Emission Aircraft, Airbus. "At scale, and if the technology targets were achieved, fuel cell engines may be able to power a one hundred passenger aircraft with a range of approximately 1,000 nautical miles. By continuing to invest in this technology we are giving ourselves additional options that will inform our decisions on the architecture of our future ZEROe aircraft, the development of which we intend to launch in the 2027-2028 timeframe."

Airbus identified hydrogen as one of the most promising alternatives to power a zero-emission aircraft, because it emits no carbon dioxide when generated from renewable energy, with water being its most significant by-products. 

There are two ways hydrogen can be used as a power source for aircraft propulsion. First via hydrogen combustion in a gas turbine, second, by using fuel cells to convert hydrogen into electricity in order to power a propeller engine. A hydrogen gas turbine can also be coupled with fuel cells instead of batteries in a hybrid-electric architecture.

Hydrogen fuel cells, especially when stacked together, increase their power output allowing scalability. In addition, an engine powered by hydrogen fuel cells produces zero NOx emissions or contrails thereby offering additional decarbonization benefits.

Airbus has been exploring the possibilities of fuel cell propulsion systems for aviation for some time. In October 2020, Airbus created Aerostack, a joint venture with ElringKlinger, a company with over 20 years of experience as both a fuel cell systems and component supplier. In December 2020, Airbus presented its pod-concept which included six removable fuel cell propeller propulsion systems. 

Source:  Airbus

In 2021, Korean Air joined the Pratt & Whitney GTF MRO network, providing disassembly, assembly and test capabilities for GTF engines for the A320neo family.

Korean Air and Pratt & Whitney began their relationship more than 60 years ago, flying Boeing 707 aircraft powered by JT3D engines. Pratt & Whitney powers more than 70 aircraft with the airline, including GTF-powered Airbus A220 aircraft, as well as Airbus A330, Boeing 747 and 777 aircraft. Korean Air also operates a fleet of 10 Airbus A380 aircraft powered by the Engine Alliance GP7200 engine, a joint venture between Pratt & Whitney and General Electric.

Source:  Pratt & Whitney

Construction of the hydrogen station at Toulouse-Blagnac airport was completed earlier this year and the production, storage and distribution systems are currently undergoing final testing. The station, slated to enter-into service in early 2023, will have a capacity to produce around 400 kilograms of hydrogen per day, providing the possibility to power some 50 ground transportation vehicles.

Airbus is working with HyPort to put in place a deployment plan for the expansion of these hydrogen fuelled ground operations, adapting production and distribution means, as well as infrastructure capacity, to cope with the expected increase in hydrogen demand in the coming years. The partnership will also enable a blueprint to be prepared outlining requirements and providing guidance on safety of operations, regulatory compliance, social acceptance as well as the financial investment necessary for the widespread use of hydrogen at airports.

"Using hydrogen to decarbonise all airport-associated ground transport in the 2020 to 2030 timeframe will pave the way for hydrogen availability for zero-emission aircraft by 2035," said Karine Guenan, VP ZEROe Ecosystem, Airbus. 

In 2020, Airbus launched "Hydrogen Hub at Airports'' to help airports identify infrastructure requirements for future hydrogen aircraft, as well as low-carbon airport operations, across the entire value chain. Over the past two years, Airbus has signed partnerships with a variety of airport authorities, airlines and energy providers in Europe, Asia-Pacific and North America. 

Source:  Airbus