Pathways and environmental assessment for the introduction of renewable hydrogen into the aviation sector

Abstract

The availability of low-cost renewable electricity from solar and wind energy provides an opportunity to use renewable hydrogen for aviation fuel production. The Power-to-Liquid (PtL) pathway provides a perspective to synthesize large amounts of sustainable jet fuels from H2O and CO2. The environmental performance of biofuel pathways can immediately be improved by the use of hydrogen from renewable energy. In the long-term perspective, it is conceivable that hydrogen can also be used directly as fuel in future hydrogen aircraft. We present an approach that allows comparative statements about the greenhouse gas balance of future hydrogen supply options for aviation. The model for direct hydrogen use takes into account the production of liquid hydrogen and its logistics. The reference cases are fuel production using renewable hydrogen in biorefineries and fuel production by PtL. We discuss future scenarios for an intensive use of hydrogen from renewable energy in aviation and evaluate the resulting environmental impacts.