Hydrogen in Aviation: Evaluating the Feasibility and Benefits of a Green Fuel Alternative

TL;DR

This paper assesses hydrogen as a sustainable fuel for aviation, demonstrating its potential to significantly reduce emissions and perform comparably to traditional fuels, despite some technical challenges.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis of hydrogen's feasibility in aviation, highlighting performance benefits and addressing key implementation challenges.

Findings

Hydrogen can reduce aviation emissions by up to 74.7%.

Hydrogen's energy-to-mass ratio is significantly higher than jet fuel.

Efficiency penalties in military applications are minimal at 2.23%.

Abstract

Growing concerns regarding environmental health have highlighted the aviation industry's impact and potential mitigation strategies. Previous research has indicated hydrogen's significant potential for reducing the industry's environmental impact, yet implementation challenges remain. Through analysis of light aircraft and military applications, we demonstrate that hydrogen-based systems can achieve performance metrics approaching those of traditional fuels while reducing emissions by up to 74.7%. Our findings show that hydrogen's superior energy-to-mass ratio (120 MJ/kg versus 43 MJ/kg for jet fuel) makes it particularly advantageous for aviation applications compared to battery-electric alternatives. Primary implementation challenges involve cryogenic storage systems (-253{\deg}C), tank placement optimization, and fueling infrastructure development. The observed efficiency penalties of only 2.23% in military applications suggest hydrogen's viability as a sustainable aviation fuel alternative.