In the UK, Rolls-Royce, easyJet, Heathrow and University College London Air Transportation Systems Lab (UCL ATSLab) published a report highlighting how hydrogen-powered aircraft could enable European and UK aviation to cut carbon emissions while supporting future growth.
The study, Enabling Hydrogen in the European Aviation Market, found that hydrogen in aviation offers a unique opportunity to achieve both emissions reduction and market expansion. The analysis shows that introducing hydrogen alongside SAF can accelerate progress towards net zero, particularly when policy incentives reward low-carbon fuels and if hydrogen were to be included within the EU’s SAF mandate.
The research also found that targeted hydrogen infrastructure at around 20 major European airports, including Heathrow, could deliver more than 80% of the emissions benefits of full hydrogen availability across the continent. Concentrating investment at key ‘hydrogen hubs’ would therefore provide a practical and cost-effective path to early adoption, according to the report.
Hervé Morvan, Chief of Future Platforms, Group R&T, Rolls-Royce, said: “While our immediate opportunities lie with increased engine efficiency and SAF adoption, by continuing the industry’s development of hydrogen propulsion and strategic infrastructure investment, we stand to achieve net-zero faster while protecting the vital economic benefits that aviation brings. This research demonstrates hydrogen’s potential to deliver substantial emissions reductions and growth advantages as part of a diverse long term technology strategy.”
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