Hydrogen under review for aviation fuel
Australia’s Fortescue Future Industries and California-based Universal Hydrogen signed a memorandum of understanding November 10 that envisions the roll-out of green hydrogen as an aviation fuel.
“Green hydrogen is an ideal aviation fuel because it is a zero-pollution, renewable resource that generates only water when it is burned,” they said. “It is also the most weight-efficient energy carrier available, aside from nuclear fuels – with nearly four times more energy per unit of mass than traditional jet fuel.”
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The memorandum of understanding outlines potential ways that Fortescue would supply green hydrogen to the California company, which could use it in the aviation sector. Further efforts include studies for the development of green hydrogen in Iceland, New Zealand and Australia.
Fortescue chair Andrew Forrest said the aviation sector accounts for 2.5% of global carbon dioxide emissions.
“Our collaboration lays the foundations for a zero-emissions aviation industry in the near-term future,” he said.
Fortescue is an investor in Universal Hydrogen. The Los Angeles-based company is in the process of building modular capsules that would support the logistics for hydrogen in the aviation sector.
It is also developing a hydrogen powertrain that could bolt on to regional passenger and cargo planes. Test flights are expected next year.