ZEROe

Towards the world’s first hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft

 ZEROe unfiltered

The next frontier in aviation

ALTERNATIVE PROPULSION

Airbus’ ambition is to bring to market the world’s first hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft by 2035. To get there, our ZEROe project is exploring a variety of configurations and technologies, as well as preparing the ecosystem that will produce and supply the hydrogen. 

EU Hydrogen Strategy

Hydrogen propulsion to power future aircraft

All four ZEROe concepts are powered by hydrogen. 

In the case of hydrogen combustion, gas turbines with modified fuel injectors  and fuel systems are powered with hydrogen in a similar manner to how aircraft are powered today. 

A second method, hydrogen fuel cells, creates electrical energy which in turn powers electric motors that turn a propeller or fan. This is a fully electric propulsion system, quite different to the propulsion system on aircraft currently in service. 

These technologies are complementary, and the benefits are additive.

ZEROe concepts

Turbofan

Range: 2,000+ nm | Passengers: <200
Two hybrid-hydrogen turbofan engines provide thrust.

Turbofan - Hybrid concept aircraft

Turboprop

Range: 1,000+ nm | Passengers: <100
Two hybrid-hydrogen turboprop engines, which drive eight-bladed propellers, provide thrust.

Turboprop - Hybrid concept aircraft

Blended-Wing Body (BWB)

Range: 2,000+ nm | Passengers: <200
Two hybrid-hydrogen turbofan engines provide thrust.

Blended Wings - ZEROe concept plane
Airbus ZEROe 6 pods concept plane

Fully electric ZEROe concept

ZEROe CONCEPTS

The fully electric concept was revealed in December 2020. It is based on an electric propeller propulsion system powered by hydrogen fuel cells, which transform  the hydrogen into electricity through a chemical reaction. In 2023, the ZEROe teams powered on the future hydrogen-propulsion system designed for the fully electric concept aircraft. 

Technology and Testing

Airbus is meeting a number of technology and testing milestones as it moves towards its ambition of bringing to market a hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft by 2035. 

Many of these milestones revolve around establishing the means of propulsion, either via hybrid hydrogen-electric fuel cells or direct hydrogen combustion. Airbus has even established a joint venture with automotive supplierElringKlinger AG, Airbus Aerostack, to develop hydrogen fuel cell stacks at the heart of an electric propulsion system.

Airbus is exploring both hydrogen-combustion and fuel-cell propulsion technologies, for which demonstrators have been launched. It has also set-up dedicated Development Centres in France, the UK, Germany and Spain to work on tanks and cryogenic fuel systems.

Airbus test aircraft A380 MSN1 is taking the lead in testing these technologies that will be vital to bringing a hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft to market.

In our mission to bring a hydrogen powered aircraft

Ecosystem

The race for hydrogen-powered commercial aviation starts on the ground. Hydrogen has to be produced, transported and stored in the right quantity, at the right time, place and cost. Its production and use must be regulated and certified.

Airbus believes the deployment of hydrogen infrastructure at airports is a prerequisite to support the widespread scale-up and adoption of hydrogen aircraft. We’re partnering with hydrogen producers and distributors worldwide, airports and airlines to build the right ecosystem to operate a hydrogen-powered aircraft by 2035. We’re already bringing together all the key players to the table.

Infographic_Airport Hydrogen Hub

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