Innovators gear up work on ‘green’ hydrogen plane with plans for nonstop 9-day trip around Earth

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🗞️ Driving the news: Swiss aviation pioneer Bertrand Piccard is leading Climate Impulse, a project aiming to fly a green hydrogen-powered plane nonstop around the world in nine days
• The initiative, backed by Airbus and Syensqo, seeks to prove the viability of liquid hydrogen as a sustainable aviation fuel
• First test flights are expected in 2026, with the ambitious global journey set for 2028

🔭 The context: Unlike traditional hydrogen-powered aircraft that use gas, Climate Impulse relies on liquid hydrogen stored in ultra-insulated tanks
• The plane, with a wingspan of 34 meters and a weight of 5.5 tons, will fly at 180 km/h
• If successful, this project could push the aviation industry toward hydrogen-powered alternatives, but large-scale adoption remains decades away

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Aviation accounts for about 2% of global CO₂ emissions, and finding sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels is critical
• Green hydrogen, produced via electrolysis using renewable energy, emits only water vapor, making it a cleaner option
• However, the environmental impact of water vapor emissions at high altitudes remains uncertain

⏭️ What's next: The team is currently testing fuel cells, propulsion systems, and the complex process of regulating liquid hydrogen at -253°C
• Success would demonstrate hydrogen’s potential as an alternative aviation fuel, but commercial viability depends on infrastructure, efficiency improvements, and cost reductions
• The aviation industry still awaits its “Tesla moment” for green flight

💬 One quote: “We have not had a ‘Tesla moment’ in aviation yet. Hydrogen has the potential to be that.” — Nikhil Sachdeva, aviation consultant at Roland Berger

📈 One stat: Aviation’s share of global emissions is 2%, but it is growing faster than any other sector

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