Aircraft technologies

The use of hydrogen in aviation is envisaged in two main directions: as a feedstock for the manufacture of synthetic sustainable aviation fuels, and for direct use as a fuel in fuel cells or for direct combustion in gas turbines.

In order to bring a hydrogen-based airliner into service by 2035, it will be necessary to mature the necessary technologies at the aircraft level, as well as to develop specific standards and break down regulatory barriers.

For mature technologies and promote and promote the development and deployment of hydrogen use in aviation in aviation in Spain, the following projects have been preliminarily selected to be developed within the “Working Group for H2 in Aircraft“of the Alliance for the Use of Hydrogen in Aviation:


  • Support for technological development

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  • Identify long-haul developments that may pose a roadblock to technology deployment and address challenges in the storage, conditioning and distribution of hydrogen within the aircraft, including production and the logistics chain of the aircraft itself.
  • Accelerate and prioritize innovative developments through collaboration between companies and technology centers based on current competencies and capabilities and their evolution towards the emerging and disruptive technologies needed to make a hydrogen-powered aircraft a reality.
  • Identification of opportunities:
  • Identify competencies, infrastructures and enabling elements necessary for the realization of technological development and actual deployment of technology at the national level.
  • Analyze references with other sectors as a catalyst for advancing the state of the art in aviation to establish synergies and shared functions with other areas such as airports, hydrogen suppliers, etc.
  • Transfer knowledge and experience from other sectors in the storage, conditioning and use of hydrogen, especially liquid hydrogen, in order to gain experience in the chemical and space industries, etc.
  • Work closely with the other WGs in establishing aviation requirements

  • Regulatory framework for hydrogen use in aviation

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  • Monitoring and assessment, from a strictly technical point of view, of the Spanish and European regulatory initiatives that could affect the field of renewable hydrogen in aviation, both for direct use and as a raw material for the production of synthetic fuels. Spanish and European regulatory initiatives that could affect the field of renewable hydrogen in aviation, both for direct use and as a raw material for the production of synthetic fuels.
  • Work on the implications from a safety point of view and especially for the creation of airport hydrogen hubs.
  • Follow-up of international and European groups regarding the development of new standards and best practice norms.
  • Public-private dialogue so that the transposition of the mandates on the use of hydrogen in aviation and synthetic aviation fuels is realistic and implementable for the industry in Spain.