Aircraft maker unveils new hydrogen fuel-cell plane concept — but H2 jet engine model put on backburner
Embraer tells Hydrogen Insight it will focus on designs that can be brought to market first
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The electric hybrid model, which has a range of 500 miles, uses an electric engine in conjunction with aircraft fuel, either conventional fuel (Jet A-1) or sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs). Emissions are reduced by 30% when the electric engines are used with Jet A-1 and by 90% when used with SAFs, Embraer claims.
The hydrogen fuel cell and electric hybrid plane concepts were originally launched in November 2021 as 19-seaters and nine-seaters, respectively, as part of a wider launch of its Energia sustainability initiative, which also included an all-electric model as well as a hydrogen jet engine design for 35-50 passengers (E50-H2GT).
The electric hybrid model could be commercialised by 2030, said Embraer, with the hydrogen fuel-cell model following after 2035.
“We are just focusing now on the options we believe we can bring to service earlier: HE [hybrid electric] in 2030 and FC [hydrogen fuel cell] in 2035,” a spokesman for the company said.
Critics point out that hydrogen is an expensive fuel option for aviation, and more difficult to handle and store than Jet A-1, which they say compromises safety and makes aviation more expensive.
The all-electric model was also absent from the line up of advanced Energia concepts this week, highlighting the difficulties faced by this technology for anything but the shortest flights. Batteries are heavy and not as energy dense by weight or volume as hydrocarbon-based fuels.
Embraer specialises in smaller aircraft for regional journeys, which its executives claim give it a technological edge.
“As new propulsion technologies will be first applied on smaller aircraft, Embraer is in a unique position,” said Luis Carlos Affonso, Embraer’s vice president of engineering. “The 19- and 30-seaters are sensible starting points for focused studies since they are likely to present earlier technical and economical readiness.”
But the company faces stiff competition from other aircraft makers and engineering firms.
Airbus is developing a suite of hydrogen-powered planes, three based around hydrogen jet engines, with a fourth powered by a hydrogen fuel cell.
The Airbus hydrogen-fuelled jet engine planes, which it claims will be on the market by 2035, are being designed to carry 100-200 passengers at a range of 1,000-2,000 miles (1,609-3,218km).