--- title: "Airbus Unveils Three Designs for Hydrogen-Powered Planes" description: "ZEROe European aerospace corporation Airbus has come up with three “ZEROe” airplane designs that rely on hydrogen power — not polluting aviation-grade kerosene. It’s part of the company’s efforts to bring the first zero-carbon commercial jet into service by 2035, as Bloomberg reports. Hydrogen Forward One design is designed to carry up to 200 passengers […]" date: "2020-09-21" modified: "2020-09-21" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/airbus-designs-hydrogen-powered-planes" categories: - "Future Society" tags: - "airbus" - "airplanes" - "hydrogen fuel" - "the digest" --- # Airbus Unveils Three Designs for Hydrogen-Powered Planes ![European aerospace corporation Airbus has come up with three "ZEROe" airplane designs that rely on hydrogen power — not polluting aviation-grade kerosene.]() *\Image: Airbus\* ## ZEROe European aerospace corporation Airbus has come up with three airplane designs that rely on hydrogen power — rather than polluting aviation-grade kerosene. The concepts, collectively known as "ZEROe," are part of the company's efforts to bring the first zero-carbon commercial jet into service by 2035, [*Bloomberg* reports](). ## Hydrogen Forward One design is designed to carry up to 200 passengers with a range of 2,000 nautical miles. The design includes a hydrogen-powered turbofan, which is spun by a modified gas-turbine engine. Liquid hydrogen would be stored and distributed via tanks in the back of the plane. ![]() The second design, meant for up to 100 passengers, uses a turboprop engine, also running on hydrogen. It's meant for short-haul trips, covering 1,000 nautical miles or so. ![]() A third — the most out-there among the three — is designed to seat 200 passengers. The concept merges the wings with the main body, creating a massive open space. "The exceptionally wide fuselage opens up multiple options for hydrogen storage and distribution, and for cabin layout," an [Airbus statement]() reads. ## The Big Transition Airbus is hoping to drum up excitement around the idea of powering the planes of tomorrow using hydrogen gas. "The transition to hydrogen, as the primary power source for these concept planes, will require decisive action from the entire aviation ecosystem," Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said in the statement. "I strongly believe that the use of hydrogen — both in synthetic fuels and as a primary power source for commercial aircraft — has the potential to significantly reduce aviation's climate impact," he added. Plenty of work still needs to be done to make that a reality. For instance, airports would have to invest significantly to install the needed hydrogen transport and refueling infrastructure — if the idea ever matures beyond the conceptual stage. **READ MORE:** [Airbus Unveils Hydrogen Designs for Zero-Emission Flight]() \[*Bloomberg*\] **More on hydrogen:** *[Founder of Tesla Competitor Nikola Steps Down Amid Fraud Scandal]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()