Airbus is putting the brakes on its zero-emission hydrogen-powered aircraft project, on account of technical challenges and slower adoption of the technology, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The company, which previously targeted to launch the aircraft by 2035, spent more than $1.7B on the project, sources told WSJ. Airbus has since cut the project's budget by a quarter and reallocated staff, pushing its timeline by as much as a decade.
Project challenges include reconfiguring engines to run on a different fuel, storing hydrogen in liquid form at -423°F, and requiring a new supply chain for the fuel. Airbus has been exploring using fuel cells, but the additional weight and limited electricity generation would lead to fewer seats and a narrower range for the aircraft.
The company said delaying the project would give it more time to fine-tune the technology. "Our destination is not changing," said Bruno Fichefeux, its head of future programs. "To get there, we need to adjust to reality."
In an earnings call in February, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said pushing the project's timeline would provide time to further develop the performance of fuel cell propulsion and liquid hydrogen system technologies.
Many companies have been scaling back their green initiatives, and broader enthusiasm for hydrogen is fading. Oil giant BP, which is pivoting back to fossil fuels, and Finland's Neste recently pulled plans for new hydrogen plants.
Subscribe to the newsletter
Daily decarbonization data and news delivered to your inbox
Follow the money flow of climate, technology, and energy investments to uncover new opportunities and jobs.
Companies
Latest issues
-
$50 Carbon Capture? This Changes Everything
Inside This Issue 💸 Prometheus Slashes Cost of Carbon Capture by More Than 80%, Unlocking Affordable E-Fuels as a New Source of 24/7 Carbon Neutral Power 🌱 Pinwheel Opens Global Call for High-Impa...
-
Still Standing: California’s Quiet Energy Ace
Inside This Issue ⚡ The Energy Source That Could Survive Trump’s Attack on California’s Green Ambitions 🌍 Carbon Business Council Expands European Footprint to Support the Continent’s Carbon Remov...
-
$170B Hydrogen Surge: Why 2025 Matters
Inside This Issue 💥 North America's $170B Hydrogen Surge: Why 2025 is the Tipping Point ⚙️ First Centrifugal on Board Carbon Capture System Launches 🌾 AgriCapture Rice Methane Reduction Project R...
Company Announcements
-
Pinwheel Opens Global Call for High-Impact Nature-Based Carbon Removal Projects
Pinwheel just launched another application round, hunting for durable and nature-based carbon removal projects that can deliver real impact for major corporate clients. Since launching at COP26 in...
-
HOUSTON /PRNewswire/ -- HydrogenXT, a leading innovator in zero-carbon fuel-grade blue hydrogen, today announced it has secured a definitive Term Sheet for $900 million in combined debt and equity ...
-
Northern Endurance Partnership Awards Halliburton Contract for Carbon Capture and Storage Monitoring
HOUSTON — Halliburton (NYSE: HAL) today announced a contract award to provide completions and downhole monitoring services for the Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP) carbon capture and storage (C...
-
The Energy Source That Could Survive Trump’s Attack on California’s Green Ambitions
Hydrogen is a growing yet controversial source of energy that some see as key to California’s ambitious climate goals. A new project in Vernon will be one of the largest hydrogen production-and-d...