BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 18
By Leman Zeynalova - Trend:
Hydrogen and hydrogen-derived fuels are identified as promising options to decarbonise aviation, Trend reports with reference to the European Hydrogen Backbone report.
The largest source of hydrogen in aviation is anticipated to be from fuel production.
Synthetic and bio kerosene are each forecast to power 7 percent, 33 percent, and 40 percent of aircrafts, equalling 50 TWh, 235 TWh, and 296 TWh of synthetic and 50 TWh, 235 TWh, and 296 TWh of bio kerosene in 2030, 2040, and 2050.
Current research and development, company announcements, and policy indicate that hydrogen aircrafts can take to the air over the coming decades, with the potential of hydrogen powering short-range aircrafts. Hydrogen is forecasted to power 0 percent, 1 percent, and 10 percent of airplanes in the EU+UK in 2030, 2040, and 2050, respectively. The forecasted demand for direct hydrogen in aviation in the EU+UK is 0 TWh, 9 TWh, and 68 TWh, accounting for 0 percent, 1 percent, and 9 percent of total aviation energy demand in 2030, 2040, and 2050, respectively.
In 2017, direct emissions from aviation accounted for 3.8 percent of total CO₂ emissions in the EU. Aviation, responsible for 13.9 percent of transport GHG emissions, is the second largest source of transport emissions after road transport. Significant fuel efficiency improvements have been achieved in aviation over recent years. The fuel burned per passenger-kilometre dropped by 24 percent between 2005 and 2017.
Despite fuel efficiency improvements, growth in air traffic has caused aviation’s absolute CO₂ emissions to continue to rise. Aviation is a particularly difficult sector to decarbonise.
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