Summary
– Hydrogen energy and transportation companies are facing bankruptcies and closures
– Aerospace startup Universal Hydrogen, started by former Airbus and United Technologies executives, aimed to use Nespresso pods full of hydrogen for aircraft
– The physics of cramming hydrogen into aircraft baggage containers does not provide enough range for practical use
– Compressed hydrogen fuel would only allow for about 2.5 hours of flight time, limiting passenger capacity and adding weight distribution concerns
– The high costs of manufacturing 700-bar hydrogen tanks, transporting hydrogen, and ensuring safety make the idea of hydrogen-powered aircraft economically unfeasible
Article
The hydrogen energy and transportation sector is experiencing a wave of bankruptcies and closures, with companies like Hyzon and Universal Hydrogen struggling to stay afloat. Universal Hydrogen, a startup aiming to create hydrogen-filled pods for aircraft, failed due to the impracticality of the idea. The founders, including former Airbus and United Technologies executives, raised over $85 million but were unable to make the concept viable. The challenge of fitting enough hydrogen into the limited space of aircraft baggage containers proved insurmountable, leading to the company’s downfall.
The use of compressed hydrogen instead of liquid hydrogen further complicated the situation, as the energy density of compressed hydrogen is much lower than that of conventional fuels like Jet A kerosene. This limited the range and efficiency of hydrogen-powered aircraft, making it difficult to achieve practical flight capabilities. The weight and volume of the hydrogen tanks required also posed challenges, reducing the capacity for passengers and cargo on the aircraft.
Additionally, the high costs associated with manufacturing, storing, and transporting hydrogen further hindered the commercial viability of Universal Hydrogen’s concept. Estimates suggest that each 700-bar hydrogen tank the size of an aircraft baggage container could cost $30,000 to $60,000, adding significant capital expenses to the operation. Moreover, the cost of producing green hydrogen for transportation purposes is not as cheap as some proponents claim, further impacting the economic feasibility of hydrogen-based aviation.
Furthermore, the safety and certification challenges of using hydrogen in aircraft are significant, requiring specialized training and certification for personnel involved in fueling operations. The potential risks associated with transporting and handling highly pressurized hydrogen pose additional safety concerns, especially in confined spaces like aircraft cabins. These safety considerations, along with the regulatory hurdles, add to the overall complexity and cost of implementing hydrogen-powered aviation.
Ultimately, the failure of Universal Hydrogen highlights the fundamental challenges and limitations of using hydrogen as a fuel source for aviation. The impracticality of the concept, combined with the economic and safety considerations, make it unlikely that hydrogen-powered aircraft will become a mainstream solution in the near future. Instead, the industry is focusing on sustainable aviation fuels as a more viable and sustainable option for reducing emissions and decarbonizing the aviation sector.
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