FARNBOROUGH, U.K. - Airbus in Toulouse, France, has partnered with aircraft lessor Avolon in Dublin to explore the potential of hydrogen-powered aircraft. This marks the first collaboration of the ZEROe Project with an operating lessor.
The partnership was announced at the Farnborough Airshow, where Airbus and Avolon revealed plans to investigate the financing and commercialization of future hydrogen-powered aircraft. They will also examine how these aircraft can be supported by the leasing business model.
Airbus is dedicating substantial resources to this initiative, aiming to understand the integration of hydrogen-powered aircraft within the industry and their interaction with airports and airlines. Developing a viable hydrogen ecosystem is seen as crucial to achieving the aviation industry’s goal of near-zero emissions.
Related: Airbus shows off its hydrogen-powered fuel cell engine
Hydrogen fuel cells in airplanes work by converting hydrogen gas into electricity through an electrochemical reaction. First, hydrogen gas is stored in high-pressure tanks onboard the airplane. These tanks are designed to safely contain the hydrogen and provide a steady supply to the fuel cell system.
Paul Geaney, President and Chief Commercial Officer, Avolon, commented, “Joining the ZEROe Project is another step in Avolon’s sustainability journey and we look forward to building on our long-standing partnership with Airbus to consider how the next generation of aircraft will be financed and commercialized. It will take a wide ecosystem of contributors to overcome the challenges of hydrogen-powered commercial flight, and Airbus is playing a crucial role in bringing partners together. While we continue to focus on supporting our customers in modernizing their fleets with lower emissions aircraft, it is also vital we look beyond that at what can further drive our industry’s decarbonization.”
Airbus Vice President ZEROe Project, Glenn Llewellyn, said, “There is real value in bringing together industry players to help solve the challenges facing aviation. We know we can’t solve decarbonization alone and welcome Avolon’s expertise and worldwide leadership in the aircraft leasing business. Working together to consider how the transition can be commercialized and financed for airline customers is crucial to success.”
