The aviation industry, a vital contributor to global transportation, is at a crossroads. With approximately 1,300 daily takeoffs and landings at Heathrow Airport alone, meeting the industry’s colossal demand for jet fuel — around 20 million litres daily — has become an intricate logistical challenge. The need for a transition to more sustainable fuel sources is pressing, driven by ambitious global targets to achieve net-zero carbon emissions.
While Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is already in use, its scalability and cost-effectiveness are questioned. Hydrogen, with its potential to store vast amounts of energy without producing carbon or nitrous oxides, emerges as a promising alternative. However, challenges ranging from infrastructure to safety and cost must be addressed for hydrogen to become a mainstream aviation fuel.