Airbus grabbed the headlines by announcing in September its zero emission plan for the next fifteen years.
Three "plane concept" were presented, the most promising of which is a "flying wing".
All would be powered by hydrogen.
Jean-Brice Dumont, director of engineering at Airbus, recognizes that the hydrogen used must be green, "otherwise we have lost in the production of hydrogen which will emit carbon dioxide what we have gained in the plane, so it's a bit hypocritical ".
Dizzying numbers
The cleanest way to produce hydrogen is through the electrolysis of water, which separates the hydrogen and oxygen atoms in a water molecule.
But for hydrogen to be considered green, the electricity used in the process must come from renewable sources.
A group of researchers did the calculations to estimate the amount of electricity needed for Roissy airport, the largest in France.
Astrophysicist Mickael Coriat speaks of dizzying figures: "We would have to cover 5,000 km² of wind turbines, which corresponds to the size of an entire French department. Converted into photovoltaic panels, that would mean 1,000 km² of photovoltaic panels. And if we decide to use nuclear energy instead, we would have to use 16 nuclear reactors to supply Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airport ".
Is the 2035 horizon too late?
According to environmental activists, the promise of hydrogen planes is a lure created by the aviation industry not to immediately reduce air traffic.
For them, 2035 is a date far too far away for a first commercial hydrogen aircraft.
It would also take many more years for entire fleets and airport infrastructures around the world to adapt.
In recent months, activists have also deployed great means, invading tarmacs at airports around the world to demand a drastic reduction in air traffic.
At Orly airport, south of Paris, the demonstrators crossed the airport fences, quickly arrested by the police.
The spokesperson for the Alternatiba association, Pauline Boyer, has not boarded a plane for seven years.
She says it is a necessary sacrifice to protect the planet.
"For the moment and in the very short term, there is no ecological plane that would allow us to continue on the current trajectory of increased air traffic," she explains.
"Today, it is the use of the plane that must be rethought along with the global reorganization of society."
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