Fortescue Future Industries (FFI), a global leader in green hydrogen, and Airbus, the world leader in aeronautics, have formed a working alliance to assist the aviation industry in decarbonizing through zero-emissions green hydrogen.
The news underscores FFI and Airbus’ shared goal of leveraging their respective capabilities to accelerate the introduction of a green hydrogen-powered aircraft into service by 2035. Unlike other forms of hydrogen, green hydrogen is produced entirely from renewable energy sources.
FFI and Airbus signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today at Airbus’ headquarters in Toulouse, France, to formalize the relationship. The MoU will enable both firms to work closely together as a single focused taskforce to accelerate the adoption of green hydrogen as a fuel in the aviation industry.
FFI and Airbus will focus on the problems associated with green hydrogen regulations, infrastructure, and global supply chains – from green hydrogen generation to transport to airports and loading onto airplanes.
The MoU states that FFI will give cost estimates and technological drivers for various supply chain segments and will develop infrastructure deployment scenarios for the provision of green hydrogen to designated airports. Airbus will share data on fleet energy consumption, scenarios for aviation hydrogen demand, refueling standards, and the aviation regulatory environment.
Dr Andrew Forrest AO, founder and chairman of the FFI, stated that the worldwide aviation industry accounted for more than 2.5% of global carbon dioxide emissions, with emissions doubling since the 1980s.
“The time is now for a green revolution in the aviation industry. This exciting collaboration brings together leaders in the aviation industry with leaders in green energy for a pollution-free future,” Dr Forrest said.
“We are all citizens of a global world. People want to travel, reunite with family and friends and explore new places without being forced to pollute the planet. The problem isn’t travel, the problem is how we fuel our planes and ships – all of that must turn emissions free. No greenwash, no mirage, just 100 per cent green.
“Look no further than my home country of Australia to see the disasters of our changing environment. The catastrophic floods on the east coast are being described as “one-in-1000-year events,” which means that every year there is just a 0.1% chance of a flood of that severity happening. Australia’s climate has already warmed on average by almost 1.5°C since 1910, and these extreme events are going to occur more frequently if industry doesn’t come together to decarbonise quickly and completely.”
“I ask those remaining institutions who continue to invest in fossil fuels, to think of their kids. In particular, those so-called entrepreneurs who are supporting fossil fuel assets, please consider your children’s future over your profits.”
Airbus Vice President of Zero Emissions Aircraft Glenn Llewellyn said, “the future of air travel is green”.
“Airbus has identified green hydrogen as the most promising option for decarbonisation to meet our environmental challenges. You heard it here first: We are starting the green aviation revolution,” Mr Llewellyn said.
