The Aviation Sector's Trip May Land At Hydrogen-Fueled Planes - Forbes

[Caribbeans]

The Aviation Sector’s Trip May Land At Hydrogen-Fueled Planes

Forbes | Ken Silverstein | Dec 9, 2024

The airlines contribute roughly 2% to 2.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, which is small relative to the industrial sector. However, as the jet age matures, that could get worse. Kerosene fuels the planes, although the industry is exploring cleaner alternatives such as hydrogen, electricity, and sustainable aviation fuels...

By the middle of the century, we could see a diverse fleet of aircraft. Electricity or hydrogen could power short trips, while sustainable aviation fuels from biomass will power longer flights. The path forward is challenging, but the potential benefits for the planet and the aviation industry could make it a fruitful journey.

"I would compare today's aviation sector to the car industry in the early 2000s. At that time, we were convinced that biofuels were the solution, and we invested heavily in them. Then came the 'Tesla moment,' when battery electric cars emerged and changed everything," says Rob Miller, an aviation professor at the University of Cambridge.

...Last week, Miller and I spoke at length at a virtual web conference hosted by ZeroAvia, which develops hydrogen-electric engines for planes. Miller is the director of the Whittle Lab at the school. They research all potential options. The goal is to reach a tipping point — where the aviation industry can shoot the moon and change the world. Hydrogen may offer this possibility. If not, and by his admission, “we may need to double down on sustainable fuels.”...more
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kensilverstein/2024/12/09/the-aviation-sectors-trip-may-land-at-hydrogen-fueled-planes/

CNBC: Why Hydrogen-Powered Planes Will Beat Electric Planes