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Hydrogen in Aviation (HIA) Alliance is the capability and experience we have in
Meanwhile, a group of leading companies in the UK aviation and pioneering new technologies and solutions -
we have already tested a modern aero engine
renewable energy sectors including easyJet, Rolls-Royce, Airbus, on green hydrogen and we strongly believe it
Ørsted, GKN Aerospace and Bristol Airport, recently established is one of the solutions that will help decarbo-
the Hydrogen in Aviation (HIA) alliance to accelerate the delivery nise aviation in the mid to long-term.”
of zero carbon aviation. HIA will work to ensure that UK capi-
talises on the huge opportunity hydrogen presents to both the
aviation industry and country as a whole. According to Sabine Klauke, Chief Technology
Officer at Airbus,“As Airbus continues to
While there are various options for decarbonising the aviation mature the aircraft technologies needed to
sector, including sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), synthetic fuels deliver hydrogen-powered flight, a united
or batteries, HIA believes that more attention should be paid to industry voice is needed to secure a robust
the potential of the direct use of hydrogen. ecosystem of renewably-sourced hydrogen.
Joining our peers from across the UK aviation
landscape in a targeted approach to policy
Besides Airbus, many smaller operators are also making rapid and investment action brings us closer to a
progress on hydrogen-powered aircraft, notably ZeroAvia and decarbonised future of flying.”
Universal Hydrogen who have already carried out flight tests.

The group will propose a clear and deliverable pathway to achiev- Experts suggest that hydrogen powered avi-
ing hydrogen-powered aviation. HIA said the alliance will work ation will not only be critical in delivering net
constructively with government, local authorities, and the avia- zero, but also provide a significant boost to
tion and hydrogen sectors to enable the UK to fulfil its potential the UK economy.
as a global leader in this critical application of hydrogen technol-
ogy. This will include setting out the pathway for scaling up the Olivia Breese, Senior Vice President and Head
infrastructure and the policy, regulatory and safety frameworks of Power-to-X for Ørsted, commented:“Ørsted
needed so that large scale commercial aviation can become a is fully committed to renewable hydrogen as
reality. a key solution to defossilise hard-to-electrify
sectors such as aviation. Our long experience
The alliance will set out that government needs to be focused on in developing and deploying new technologies
three key areas which are; supporting the delivery of the infra- has taught us that collaboration across policy
structure needed for the UK to be a global leader; ensuring the makers, developers, customers and supply
aviation regulatory regime is hydrogen ready; and transforming chain - and considerable investment from
the funding for hydrogen aviation R&D support into a 10 year each of them – is critical to bring down costs
programme, if the UK is to see the economic benefits and meet and drive a new sector to scale. Alliances such
decarbonisation targets. as the HIA are essential to bring together
different actors across the value chain to sup-
Johan Lundgren, CEO of easyJet and first Chair of HIA, said: port and accelerate the role hydrogen can,
“There is no doubt that the UK has the potential to become a and must, play in the UK.”
world leader in hydrogen aviation, which could bring with it a
£34bn per annum boost to the country’s economy by 2050, but The DfT’s Jet Zero Strategy states that rapid
in order to capture this opportunity, rapid change is needed and investment in hydrogen aviation could see
the time to act is now. the UK securing 60,000 new jobs and recent
projections predict that hydrogen could con-
“We must work together to deliver the radical solutions required tribute to £18bn GVA and help meet up to
for a hard to abate industry like aviation so we can protect and 50 per cent of the world’s energy demand
maximise the benefits that it brings to the UK economy and soci- by 2050.
ety and that we know British consumers want to be preserved.
The rate of research and development
“HIA looks forward to working with the UK Government to ensure within the UK means that the aviation sector
the right funding, regulatory and policy changes are implemented is already in an advanced position to take
to accelerate the delivery of zero carbon aviation.” advantage of this significant opportunity.
With the first ground test of a fully hydro-
Grazia Vittadini, Chief Technology Officer at Rolls-Royce, gen-powered jet engine last year,the first
said:“Collaboration is key when it comes to achieving our net hydrogen powered narrow-body aircraft is
zero ambitions as an industry, which is why we are proud to be expected to be ready for short-haul flights
part of the Hydrogen in Aviation Alliance. Our contribution to HIA across the UK and Europe by 2035.

ASIAN AIRLINES & AEROSPACE JULY - SEPTEMBER 2023 | 13