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Hydrogen-powered planes almost ready for takeoff
(arstechnica.com)
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this post was submitted on 11 Aug 2023
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Technology
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I'm not super knowledgeable in this area, but this seems like a great idea. I remember when hydrogen cars first came out, and the biggest issue was that there was almost nowhere to refuel. The nearest fueling station to where I lived was about an hour away. With planes, the airports will have fueling stations. IIRC, it's significantly better for the environment than existing jet fuel. The range was pretty good for cars, so I assume it will be for planes as well.
Would it be safer than combustible jet fuel?
I mean it's slightly better. The worst effect is still by cloud seeding at flight height. That doesn't go away with hydrogen.
But to my understanding could even be turned into a beneficial effect otf you changed the flight height of planes, seeding clouds further down. But that makes them less efficient, which isn't great for hydrogen.
So a better strategy might be to mandate lower flight height and e/bio fuels.
This is a great point and something I don't think many people are aware of. I believe I've heard a stat that states that only 50% the impact of planes on climate change is due to burning fossil fuels, whilst the other 50% is due to cloud seeding. (Source: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210525-how-aviation-is-reducing-its-climate-emissions).