UK hydrogen alliance established to accelerate zero carbon aviation and bring an £34bn* annual benefit to the country

EasyJet, Rolls-Royce, Airbus, Ørsted, GKN Aerospace, and Bristol Airport have formed the Hydrogen in Flight (HIA) alliance to speed the delivery of zero-carbon flights. The HIA will aim to ensure that the UK capitalizes on the enormous opportunity that hydrogen brings to both the aviation sector and the country as a whole.

While there are several ways to reduce carbon emissions in the aviation industry, such as using sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), synthetic fuels, or batteries, the HIA thinks that more focus should be placed on the possibilities of using hydrogen directly.

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Hydrogen is a very promising alternative-fuel option for short-haul aviation. Airbus is developing new hydrogen powered aircraft with the aim of entering commercial service from 2035 and Rolls-Royce has already proven that hydrogen could power a jet engine following successful ground tests in 2022. Furthermore, many smaller operators are making rapid progress on hydrogen-powered aircraft, notably ZeroAvia and Universal Hydrogen who have already carried out flight tests.

The group will be drawing on their considerable expertise to propose a clear and deliverable pathway to achieving hydrogen-powered aviation. HIA will work constructively with Government, local authorities, and the aviation and hydrogen sectors to enable the UK to fulfil its potential as a global leader in this critical application of hydrogen technology. This will include setting out the pathway for scaling up the infrastructure and the policy, regulatory and safety frameworks needed so that large scale commercial aviation can become a reality. 

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The alliance will outline that, in order for the UK to experience economic benefits and reach its decarbonization goals, the government must concentrate on three key areas: supporting the delivery of the infrastructure required for the country to be a global leader; ensuring that the aviation regulatory system is hydrogen ready; and turning funding for hydrogen aviation R&D support into a 10-year programme.

Investing in hydrogen will also assist in maintaining the social advantages of air travel by keeping customers connected to their jobs, loved ones, and new places. Finally, it will provide employment. In terms of hydrogen, a government survey in 2021*** found that creating a UK hydrogen economy may sustain up to 100,000 jobs nationwide and in our industrial heartlands by the year 2050.