Fortescue & Airbus partner to decarbonise aviation

Australian miner Fortescue's green hydrogen arm has partnered with Airbus to create a working alliance to aid in the decarbonisation of the aviation sector through hydrogen-powered jets.

The airliner has already pledged to pioneer the use of hydrogen jets by the mid-decade, based on concepts unveiled in 2020 as part of a greater pledge to operate at net-zero emissions by 2035.

Read more: Airbus to pioneer hydrogen combustion jets

Hydrogen as a fuel works better than electric for aviation due to the longer distances required for travel. Currently, the tech needed for hydrogen engines is large and bulky, which makes them less effective for smaller vehicles.

In addition, the only byproduct when burning green hydrogen is water vapour, which means it is a perfectly clean alternative to fossil fuels. However, liquid hydrogen is currently far more expensive to produce than sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

The two firms will look specifically at challenges around green hydrogen regulations, infrastructure and global supply chains – from the production of green hydrogen, right through to its delivery to airports and transfer onto aircraft.

As part of the plans, Fortescue will look into infrastructure development, while Airbus will handle integrating the tech into fleets.

With aviation currently responsible for around 2% of emissions - with numbers having doubled since 1980 - it is considered an important sector for decarbonisation owing to it being vital for industrial supply chains, alongside shipping.

“The time is now for a green revolution in the aviation industry. This exciting collaboration brings together leaders in the aviation industry with leaders in green energy for a pollution-free future", said Andrew Forest, the founder of Fortescue Future Industries (FFI).

"Look no further than my home country of Australia to see the disasters of our changing environment. The catastrophic floods on the east coast are being described as “one-in-1000-year events,” which means that every year there is just a 0.1% chance of a flood of that severity happening.

"Australia's climate has already warmed on average by almost 1.5°C since 1910, and these extreme events are going to occur more frequently if industry doesn't come together to decarbonise quickly and completely".

“I ask those remaining institutions who continue to invest in fossil fuels, to think of their kids. In particular, those so-called entrepreneurs who are supporting fossil fuel assets, please consider your children’s future over your profits", he concluded.

Read more: United Airlines bets on hydrogen jets with ZeroAvia purchase

Airbus Vice President of Zero Emissions Aircraft Glenn Llewellyn said, “the future of air travel is green”.

He added: “Airbus has identified green hydrogen as the most promising option for decarbonisation to meet our environmental challenges. You heard it here first: We are starting the green aviation revolution".

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