Remember when the idea of an electric car seemed like a distant dream? Now, imagine the same leap for airplanes. A team of “practical dreamers” in France is doing exactly that with Climate Impulse, a hydrogen-powered plane that aims to fly around the world.
It's like we're witnessing the birth of the Wright Brothers of the green age, only this time, the goal isn't just to fly, but to do so without leaving carbon footprints in the sky.
The visionary behind Climate Impulse
Leading this bold venture of the hydrogen aircraft is Bertrand Piccard, a name that might sound familiar to sustainable aviation enthusiasts. It's not his first time, however: Piccard was part of the team Solar Impulse who flew a solar plane around the world between 2015 and 2016. Now, he's upping the ante.
Many people say you can't decarbonize aviation. Climate Impulse it is my response against defeatism, against scepticism, against all those who say there are no solutions.
Bertrand Piccard
Why the hydrogen plane?
Yes: why choose hydrogen instead of continuing with solar energy? Piccard has a ready answer:
If you want to be completely decarbonized, you can go solar… but it's not practical for commercial aviation. If you have larger planes, you need larger batteries, and some of your energy will be wasted carrying these heavy batteries. That's why it may be more efficient to switch to hydrogen.
Obviously, switching to a hydrogen airplane is not like changing the fuel brand in your car. Among the biggest challenges is the need to keep liquid hydrogen at temperatures close to absolute zero. It's a bit like trying to transport an ice cube across the Sahara, except the "ice" in question is explosive if not handled correctly. I, despite not being able to read or write, wish Bertrand all the best: I wait and hope.
The technical specifications of Climate Impulse: a gentle giant of the skies
Climate Impulse is not just a concept, but an engineering marvel with impressive specifications. With a wingspan of 34 metres, this giant of the skies weighs just 5,5 tonnes, including its hydrogen load. It flies at a cruising altitude of 3000 meters, maintaining a speed of approximately 180 km/h thanks to two powerful engines of 270 horsepower each.
The heart of the propulsion system are two liquid hydrogen tanks, each with a capacity of 11 cubic meters. These specifications will allow the hydrogen plane to attempt its ambitious round-the-world trip in just 9 days, without stopping. When?
The countdown has begun
The Climate Impulse team is wasting no time. Testing is expected to begin in 2026, with the ambitious goal of attempting a round-the-world flight in 2028.
Hydrogen plane, the future is in the air
As Climate Impulse prepares to take flight, the questions line up: What will this mean for the future of air travel? Could we one day hop on a hydrogen-powered airliner for our vacations?
All that remains is to wait for this and others similar projects, and hope that one day we will leave behind us only trails of water vapor and a better world.
