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Airbus reaffirms commitment to hydrogen aviation

A mock-up image created in March 2025 to show what Airbus' fully electric, hydrogen-powered ZEROe aircraft will look like.

A mock-up image created in March 2025 to show what Airbus' fully electric, hydrogen-powered ZEROe aircraft will look like.

Photo by Airbus

11th April 2025

By: Rebecca Campbell

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

     

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At the 2025 edition of its annual, sustainable aerospace-focused, Airbus Summit, the Europe-based global major aerospace and defence group reaffirmed its commitment to develop and market a commercially viable hydrogen-powered commercial airliner.

Airbus’ programme to develop clean aviation is designated ZEROe.

The group also presented some of the technologies that would allow the introduction of a hydrogen fuel cell-powered fully electrical airliner. The decision to focus on the combination of hydrogen fuel cells and electric motors was the outcome of years of research into hydrogen aviation, stated the company.

“Hydrogen is at the heart of our commitment to decarbonise aviation,” highlighted Airbus Future Programmes head Bruno Fichefeux. “While we’ve adjusted our [ZEROe] roadmap, our dedication to hydrogen-powered flight is unwavering. Just as we saw in the automotive sector, fully electric aircraft powered by hydrogen fuel cells have the potential in the longer term to revolutionise air transport for the better, complementing the sustainable aviation fuel pathway.”

The group showed its latest “notional concept” ZEROe aircraft design, powered by four 2-MW electric motors, each powered by a fuel cell that converts hydrogen and oxygen into electricity. The four fuel cells will be supplied with liquid hydrogen from two liquid hydrogen tanks. The group will continue to refine this concept in the coming years.

“Over the last five years, we have explored multiple hydrogen-propulsion concepts, before down-selecting this fully electric concept,” explained Airbus ZEROe project head Glenn Llewellyn.

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Magazine Managing Editor

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