Airbus on Monday unveiled three hydrogen-powered, and therefore non-polluting, aircraft concepts that it hopes to launch by 2035. Jean-Brice Dumont, executive vice-president of engineering at the aircraft manufacturer, a mentioned this major project Monday on Europe 1.

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The aviation industry is accelerating its ecological transition.

Airbus unveiled on Monday three aircraft concepts powered by hydrogen, a fuel without polluting emissions, for commissioning expected in 2035. Jean-Brice Dumont, executive vice-president of engineering at Airbus, spoke on Monday on Europe 1, this crucial project for the company, while the aeronautics sector is working hard to move towards the decarbonization of air transport.

What is the difference between hydrogen and kerosene?

For several years, air transport has been singled out for its CO2 emissions, which represent 2 to 3% of the world total.

Airbus thus presented three aircraft concepts, all powered by hydrogen.

“Hydrogen is a fuel that has three times more energy for a given kilo than a kilo of kerosene. It releases water and not CO2, it will mix with oxygen and produce water ", explains Jean-Brice Dumont.

"Hydrogen is much larger than kerosene and we have to transport it in its liquid version which is cryogenic, at -250 degrees, like what we are used to seeing in hospitals. These are constraints of which will eventually change the shape of the aircraft to manage to accommodate a fuel that does not have the same constraints as kerosene, "he explains.

What forms will hydrogen planes have?

With hydrogen, the shape of planes could change in the years to come.

Airbus presented a first concept, a turbojet with a classic appearance but a little elongated.

The second is a regional turboprop (propeller) aircraft.

Finally, the third concept would make a radical change, since it is a flying wing, with a capacity and autonomy similar to the concept of turbojet (in the middle of the image in the tweet below). 

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But the aircraft manufacturer will not reveal its final choice until 2025. "2035 is tomorrow and far away at the same time. We need to mature what is the right concept, that's why we launched three concepts and that we study all the technologies around hydrogen in parallel. We must decide in 2025 which will be the right formula, but today we cannot predict it, "warned Jean-Brice Dumont.

"The dominant criterion is safety: aviation is a safe means of transport which must remain so. Then there are classic criteria, in particular performance, to know how far and with how many passengers you can fly."

Finally, there are economic criteria "with the cost of the aircraft and its industrial system. This analysis will have to converge until 2025".

Thinner wings?

Besides the shape of the plane, the wings could also change in appearance.

"The wings could be thinner. Research in the fields of wing aerodynamics leads us to imagine thinner wings but it is not related to hydrogen," explains the manager.

"What is certain is that they allow a much more efficient aircraft which needs less fuel to fly, which is convenient for us with hydrogen."

What will be the range in flight?

The concept of turbojet aircraft and the flying wing should allow boarding from 120 to 200 passengers, the equivalent of an A220 or an A320 and a range of more than 3,500 kilometers.

That of a turboprop (propeller) could allow the flight of 100 passengers over 1,800 kilometers.

Airbus therefore relies first on short and medium-haul, before considering a possible transposition over longer distances.

"We will start by putting hydrogen on shorter-range planes, with transcontinental action ranges. We will seek the maximum use of biofuels, in particular synthetic, for longer distances," said Jean-Brice Dumont .

What consequences for the price of tickets?

The manager at Airbus admits straight away: "It is difficult to predict the economy of hydrogen."

"Hydrogen is a mutation of our society, we are not the only consumers. The world of road, rail, maritime and even heavy industry are looking at how to effect a mutation towards hydrogen as a source of energy. It is when there will be a large number of hydrogen customers that it will be possible to envisage it with quantities such that the prices will drop, "he believes.

"For now, there is a balance to be found between demand and supply that will lower its price in the not too distant horizon, that's what we are counting on." At this stage, it is therefore impossible to know if it will cost you more to take a hydrogen plane.