Airbus has announced that in an epochal stride toward ushering in a new era of sustainable aviation, a coalition of formidable industry players in the United Kingdom has given birth to the Hydrogen in Aviation (HIA) alliance. Comprising influential entities such as easyJet, Rolls-Royce, Airbus, Ørsted, GKN Aerospace, and Bristol Airport, this formidable alliance is poised to spearhead the drive for zero-carbon aviation in the UK. Its mission? To seize the immense potential that hydrogen, the universe’s most abundant element, holds for revolutionizing the aviation industry, not to mention the overall impact on the country’s decarbonization ambitions.
While various strategies are being pursued to decarbonize aviation, including sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), synthetic fuels, and advanced battery technologies, the HIA alliance is staunchly advocating for the elevated recognition of hydrogen’s substantial contribution to this cause. Hydrogen, with its unparalleled energy density and clean-burning properties, is emerging as a prominent alternative fuel, especially for short-haul aviation. This new initiative seeks to propel the UK to the forefront of the global hydrogen aviation movement.