Airbus has been advocating for the transition to hydrogen-powered aircraft for several years, leading tests and research into the possibly revolutionising fuel that could hold the answer to carbon free flying.
Airbus UpNext, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the European plane manufacturer, has launched a new technological demonstrator to accelerate the maturation of superconducting technologies for use in electric propulsion systems of a future hydrogen-powered aircraft. Known as Cryoprop, the new demonstrator will integrate and mature a two megawatt-class superconducting electric propulsion system cooled by liquid hydrogen via a helium recirculation loop.
“Our previous demonstrators have shown that superconducting technologies would be a key enabler for the high-power electrification of future hydrogen-powered aircraft. I truly believe that the new demonstrator will lead to performance improvements of the propulsion system, translating into significant weight and fuel saving potential”, said Michael Augello, CEO of Airbus UpNext.
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Airbus has been developing superconducting technologies for high-power electric propulsion for several years, culminating in the power-on of an integrated 500 kW cryogenic propulsion system last year. Cryoprop should confirm the potential of superconducting technologies for future aircraft applications, assessing all aspects related to safety, industrialisation, maintenance and operations.
The demonstrator will also give Airbus the opportunity to develop high-level, in-house expertise and foster a new ecosystem to accelerate the introduction of new products in areas such as superconducting cables, motors, cryogenic power electronics and cryogenic cooling systems.
In other strides to innovate and provide efficient and technologically advanced solutions in aerospace, Airbus is currently developing the first hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft with the ambition to enter into service in 2035. The manufacturer also launched the “Hydrogen Hub at Airports” program to jumpstart research into infrastructure requirements and low-carbon airport operations across the entire value chain, the first such hub opening at Hamburg Airport in 2022.
Recently, Airbus, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Delta Air Lines and Plug Power have joined forces to study the feasibility of a hydrogen-based hub at the world’s busiest airport. The study, which preliminarily launched in early 2024, will help define the infrastructure, operational viability and safety and security requirements needed to implement hydrogen as a potential fuel source for future aircraft operations at ATL. It will also contribute to the understanding of supply and infrastructure requirements for hydrogen hubs at airports worldwide.
