As one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of commercial aircraft, Airbus plays a central role in the transition of the aviation industry towards carbon-neutral flight. At its site in Finkenwerder, Airbus is not only manufacturing successful aircraft such as the A320neo and the upcoming A321 XLR but is also developing new types of aircraft that produce no CO2 emissions. As part of the this activity, the company utilizes R&D infrastructure and opportunities offered in Hamburg cluster such as the Centre for Applied Aeronautical Research (ZAL), a purpose-built research facility funded by the city of Hamburg.

The Airbus ZEROe project aims to develop a hydrogen-powered aircraft commercial aircraft and introduce it to the market by 2035. Among the technologies Airbus is actively pursuing in Hamburg is an aircraft engine running on liquid hydrogen. Here the Fuel Cell Propulsion System team headed by Hauke Peer Lüdders is designing, assembling and testing prototype fuel cell systems that form a crucial step in the development towards climate neutral flight.

The approach focusses on combining multiple fuel cell stacks to deliver energy in the megawatt range, delivering the thrust required for an electric aircraft. ZEROe is one of a range of projects related to hydrogen technology and infrastructure in Hamburg currently active in the aviation and energy sectors.