A hydrogen-powered jet engine has been successfully tested by Rolls-Royce and easyJet. The ground test marks the world's first run of a modern aero engine on hydrogen, according to the pair. The test was carried out at an outdoor facility in the UK, using a converted Rolls-Royce engine.
Airlines have a big impact on the planet and flights are one of the most carbon intensive forms of travel. Aviation is responsible for five percent of global greenhouse gas emissions according to a report by the Energy Industry Review. If these numbers don't account for plane stops, emissions may be much higher, reaching upwards of 15% of global emissions.
The aviation industry is trying to reduce emissions by developing planes that use alternative fuels. The ability of hydrogen to produce water vapor rather than carbon dioxide makes it appealing. Airlines have invested a lot in hydrogen technologies as they work to reduce emissions.
There is more to hydrogen than being a silver bullet. Currently the fuel is in short supply. It is difficult to store hydrogen because it requires high pressures, low temperatures, or chemical processes to be stored compactly.
Not all hydrogen types are created equally. It takes a lot of energy to separate hydrogen from other elements. Studies show that the fossil fuel footprint can be very high if hydrogen is created with fossil fuels. If the hydrogen- fueled jets are to be effective in reducing emissions, they will need to run on what is known as "green" hydrogen, which is made with renewable power. The fuel used in the easyJet and Rolls-Royce test was made from renewable sources.
The difficulty of introducing and certifying new aircraft designs to accommodate hydrogen jet fuel is one of the challenges airlines will face. A Boeing jumbo jet needs 1 million liters of hydrogen to travel the same distance as a quarter of a liter of jet fuel.
Rolls-Royce and easyJet say they are going to carry out in-flight tests despite some drawbacks. There is still a long way to go before hydrogen jet fuel can be used on long-distance flights up to 1,864 miles. According to a 2020 European Union report, hydrogen- fueled planes could be on the market in the near future.
The success of the hydrogen test is a big deal. The partnership with easyJet was announced in July and we are already off to a great start, according to the press release.
The zero carbon possibilities of hydrogen could help shape the future of flight.
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