easyJet, Rolls-Royce, Airbus, Ørsted, GKN Aerospace and Bristol Airport are among a group of leading companies in the UK aviation and renewable energy sectors that have come together to form the Hydrogen in Aviation (HIA) alliance.
The aim behind HIA’s work will be to ensure the UK makes the most of the opportunity hydrogen presents, not only to the aviation industry, but the UK as a whole. Considering a “very promising alternative-fuel option for short-haul aviation”, HIA highlighted how Airbus is already working on a new hydrogen powered aircraft for 2035 and Rolls-Royce has successfully proven that a jet engine could be powered by hydrogen.
The group will work on building a clear and deliverable pathway to achieving hydrogen-powered aviation, pledging to work constructively with government, local authorities, as well as the aviation and hydrogen sectors. Through this pathway, it will outline how to scale up infrastructure, as well as the policy, regulatory and safety frameworks that are needed to help realise large-scale commercial hydrogen aviation.
The HIA will be placing particular emphasis on three key areas for government – supporting the delivery of the infrastructure needed for the UK to be a global leader; ensuring the aviation regulatory regime is hydrogen ready; and transforming funding for hydrogen aviation R&D support into a 10-year programme.
