Green hydrogen could be used to reduce emissions within the aviation sector within the next five years, with a complete transition to hydrogen fuelled flights possible by 2050, according to a new CSIRO report. The new research report, prepared by the CSIRO with the support of Boeing Australia, found that hydrogen could begin playing a role in reducing emissions in ground-based aviation operations within the next five years. The report found that by 2025, hydrogen could begin playing a role in reducing emissions related to ground based transport and support operations at airports.
By 2035, the role of hydrogen in reducing emissions could be substantially larger, when used to supplement fuels used in existing aircraft, starting a process of transitioning away from jet fuels. While technological advancements would still be required to allow for hydrogen fuelled commercial aircraft, the researchers found that a complete transition to hydrogen fuelled aviation transport could occur by 2050.
However, the opportunity to reduce emissions once the aviation sector has recovered would be substantial, with historical global energy use from air transport consuming 3.2 times more energy than the entirety of Australia. With strong growth in the number of trips being taken by passengers, emissions in the aviation sector could triple by 2050, unless action is taken to reduce emissions in the sector. The CSIRO report sees opportunities in green hydrogen being used as the basis for the production of zero emissions ‘electro-fuels’ where hydrogen is combined with carbon dioxide to provide direct jet-fuel replacements.
Source: Renew Economy
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