Hydrogen-powered aviation and its reliance on green hydrogen infrastructure

Review and research gaps

authored by

J. Hoelzen, D. Silberhorn, T. Zill, B. Bensmann, R. Hanke-Rauschenbach

Abstract

Aircraft powered by green hydrogen (H2) are a lever for the aviation sector to reduce the climate impact. Previous research already focused on evaluations of H2 aircraft technology, but analyses on infrastructure related cost factors are rarely undertaken. Therefore, this paper aims to provide a holistic overview of previous efforts and introduces an approach to assess the importance of a H2 infrastructure for aviation. A short- and a medium-range aircraft are modelled and modified for H2 propulsion. Based on these, a detailed cost analysis is used to compare both aircraft and infrastructure related direct operating costs (DOC). Overall, it is shown that the economy of H2 aviation highly depends on the availability of low-cost, green liquid hydrogen (LH2) supply infrastructure. While total DOC might even slightly decrease in a best LH2 cost case, total DOC could also increase between 10 and 70% (short-range) and 15–102% (medium-range) due to LH2 costs alone.

Organisation(s)

Section Electrical Energy Storage Systems
Leibniz Research Centre Energy 2050

External Organisation(s)

German Aerospace Center (DLR)

Type

Review article

Journal

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

Volume

47

Pages

3108-3130

No. of pages

23

ISSN

0360-3199

Publication date

15.01.2022

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment, Fuel Technology, Condensed Matter Physics, Energy Engineering and Power Technology

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 13 - Climate Action

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2021.10.239 (Access: Open)