Hydrogen vs. SAF: The Airborne Duel for a Cleaner Future

6 min readOct 26, 2024

Alright, folks, buckle up because we’re taking a ride into the wacky world of hydrogen-powered aviation! If you thought sustainable aviation fuel was enough to clean up those airplane emissions, think again. Hydrogen isn’t just coming up on the radar; it’s trying to blow the whole thing up and start a new one. Europe, with Airbus leading the charge, is betting big on hydrogen as the clean future of flight, while the U.S. is cozying up to SAF, playing the “slow and steady” game. It’s like watching a race where one side is riding a high-tech hydrogen rocket, and the other side is jogging politely with biofuels.

Hydrogen: The Gas with Class

So what’s the big deal about hydrogen? Imagine jet fuel that doesn’t produce carbon emissions, just water vapor. Sounds like magic, right? Well, Airbus calls it ZEROe — a vision straight out of science fiction. Back in 2020, Airbus rolled out three shiny, hydrogen-powered aircraft concepts. They’re not playing around; they’re talking about a 2035 launch for a zero-emission commercial aircraft! The plan? Use either hydrogen combustion or fuel cells. Hydrogen combustion is basically taking a jet engine and feeding it hydrogen instead of kerosene. Fuel cells, on the other hand, convert hydrogen into electricity, which then powers electric motors that turn propellers. In the air, it’s a lot like switching from regular gas-guzzling cars to fully electric vehicles. Zero CO₂ and lots of engineering wizardry.

The Double-Edged Sword of Hydrogen

Sure, hydrogen has its perks — three times the energy density of jet fuel, for starters. But the catch? It’s light as a feather, which means it takes up loads of space. Enter cryogenic tanks. Airbus has gone full mad scientist, designing special tanks that can chill hydrogen down to keep it liquid and cramming them into aircraft like the modified Airbus A380. If this thing works, it’ll be like flying an eco-friendly thermos with wings.

Combustion vs. Fuel Cells: The Great Debate

Hydrogen combustion is tempting because it’s similar to what we already know. Imagine you’re upgrading your old car instead of buying a whole new one. The problem is that hydrogen burns hot — really hot. We’re talking “let’s rebuild the whole engine” hot. General Electric and Safran are partnering up to test a modified GE Passport engine to see if it can handle this kind of heat. But then there’s the “cool kid” on the block: fuel cells. These beauties don’t burn hydrogen; they use it to generate electricity, which is great for smaller planes and regional flights. But here’s the twist — fuel cells are heavy, making them less ideal for long-haul flights. It’s a classic case of high efficiency versus high practicality.

The U.S. Sticks to SAF — The “Diet” Solution to Emissions

Across the pond, the U.S. is sticking to SAF, which is like the “low-fat” version of decarbonization. SAF is made from biofuels and synthetic materials and can cut emissions by up to 80%. The good news? It works in today’s engines and infrastructure, no overhauls needed. The bad news? SAF is expensive and scarce. By 2022, SAF made up only a measly 0.1% of U.S. aviation fuel. The U.S. loves it because it’s a plug-and-play solution, but it’s like using a band-aid on a broken bone: it’s not solving the core problem.

Money, Politics, and Hydrogen Hubs

The divide between hydrogen-happy Europe and SAF-focused America boils down to money. Europe’s governments are splashing cash on hydrogen, seeing it as part of the EU’s Green Deal. In the U.S., though, government dollars are fueling SAF production, giving hydrogen the cold shoulder. Airbus isn’t waiting around. They’re building “Hydrogen Hubs at Airports,” partnering with airports and energy providers to create a network where hydrogen can be stored, cooled, and pumped right into the aircraft. Because, really, what’s the point of a hydrogen plane if there’s nowhere to fill it up?

The Big Picture

Airbus isn’t just about hydrogen planes; they’re looking at a hydrogen ecosystem. They argue that hydrogen, once scaled, will be cheaper and cleaner than SAF. But, oh boy, the challenges are real. Hydrogen production is energy-intensive, and getting it to airports without losing half of it to the atmosphere is another puzzle. SAF has its own headaches, too, like the limited supply and sky-high costs. Airbus envisions a future where both SAF and hydrogen coexist, but whether that’s possible depends on who’s paying and who’s playing along.

The Last Laugh

So, here we are, watching Europe and America go head-to-head over the future of aviation fuel. Airbus is looking to 2035, ready to turn hydrogen dreams into reality, while the U.S. is hedging its bets on SAF for now. This race isn’t just about who can fly farther on cleaner fuel; it’s about who will lead the way in the next era of aviation. And if hydrogen wins, well, you might just be sipping on a glass of water that came from your airplane’s exhaust.

Strap in, because the future is coming, and it’s either fueled by SAF, hydrogen, or both.

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