Despite being portrayed as a behemoth in the aircraft industry, Airbus has had several failures over the years, and its most recent hydrogen experiment might not be as innovative as it seems. It’s important to consider if Airbus’s decision to switch from unsuccessful rocket endeavours to hydrogen-powered aircraft is indeed innovative or merely another exaggerated attempt to remain relevant in a sector that is developing more quickly than Airbus can keep up.
Not to mention that Airbus’ rocket space aspirations failed, especially when it attempted to compete with industry titans like SpaceX and Blue Origin. The company’s rocket program, which was intended to dominate the space sector, was a huge letdown since Airbus was unable to keep up with the competitive speed and technical breakthroughs made by Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Airbus is currently attempting to make amends for that mistake by pursuing hydrogen aircraft, promising a clean, emission-free world by 2035.
Three of the four hydrogen-powered aircraft concepts that Airbus has unveiled employ hybrid engines that burn hydrogen, while the fourth uses hydrogen fuel cells. Although this seems encouraging, the truth is far more nuanced. Despite being environmentally beneficial, hydrogen technology presents significant logistical problems. The infrastructure required to power a whole fleet of aeroplanes is lacking, hydrogen is costly to generate, and it is challenging to store. Furthermore, it should not be overlooked that Airbus is relying on a technology that will not be widely economically viable for years or perhaps decades.
The 1.2 megawatts of electricity produced by Airbus’ alleged 2023 hydrogen fuel cell test is being hailed as a game-changer. But it’s crucial to remember that this exam was only the beginning. Before these systems are incorporated into real flight operations, there is still a long road ahead. A380 platform testing is planned for 2026, years before any actual commercial use occurs. Can Airbus afford to be so cautious and conservative in a field where speed and innovation are critical?
Furthermore, Airbus’ decision to switch from rockets to hydrogen could be more desperate than creative. The business appears to be fighting to stay in the green tech race after falling behind its rivals in the aerospace industry. Although hydrogen could be the clean aviation of the future, Airbus’s history of innovation makes it questionable if it will be at the forefront of this shift. They surely don’t inspire confidence given their previous history of failure in the rocket industry.
Airbus has significant logistical, financial, and technological challenges as it advances its ZeroE project; these challenges might cause delays or even completely derail its goals. Instead of being a significant advancement, the lofty target of zero emissions by 2035 could merely prove to be another public relations gimmick.
Thus, although Airbus exalts its hydrogen-powered future, the actual situation can be far less spectacular. Like its rocket program, might this be another endeavour doomed to the scrapyard? Time will tell, but given the obstacles in the way of Airbus’ hydrogen goals, it is difficult to have too much hope.
