Will hydrogen pave the way for a climate-neutral aviation industry? Although promising, implementing this approach poses significant challenges for the aviation industry. Over the next three years, the collaborative project “HyNEAT – Hydrogen Supply Networks‘ Evolution for Air Transport” will investigate supply networks for hydrogen-powered aviation. The project focuses on green hydrogen as well as cost-effective production and transport. HyNEAT is in receipt of funding provided by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) amounting to approximately three million euros. It is a collaborative project of Leibniz University Hannover (spokesperson), TU Braunschweig, Clausthal University of Technology and Hamburg University of Technology.

Drive systems based on green hydrogen for larger commercial aircrafts are a promising alternative for more climate-friendly aviation. Using hydrogen can only contribute to climate protection if it is produced from renewable energies. In addition to the need to develop new drive systems and aircraft concepts, one of the greatest challenges is the development of a corresponding hydrogen infrastructure that enables competitive costs for operating these new aircraft types. This is where the HyNEAT project comes in. The research team investigates whether and in which countries renewable energies will be sufficiently available in the future and where international supply networks should be established. The aim is to identify global and local potential for the cost-effective production of green hydrogen for aviation. Furthermore, particular attention will be paid to ensuring that this also takes place in line with the overall transition to an environmentally sound energy supply as well as with the design of aviation networks.

The scientific consortium is accompanied by an industry advisory board. This board includes Airbus, Deutsche Aircraft, MTU Aero Engines, Lufthansa Group, the German Aerospace Center, Flughafen Hamburg GmbH, Flughafen München GmbH as well as FMO Flughafen Münster/Osnabrück GmbH, Linde GmbH, Siemens Energy, EWE, the German-African Business Association, and McKinsey & Company. Other interested businesses and research institutions are welcome to contact the project team.

Due to the large potential for renewable energies and the therefore cost-effective production of green hydrogen, several countries – such as in North Africa or the Middle East – are predestined to supply hydrogen to the aviation industry. Thus, local renewable energy supply systems in exporting countries could also benefit from the development of hydrogen infrastructures. HyNEAT aims to examine the role of selected regions, also outside Europe, in supplying hydrogen to the aviation industry.

Further information on the project "HyNEAT" can be found here.

Source: Press release Leibniz Universität Hannover, 09.02.2023