Hydrogen has huge potential as a clean energy source, but we need to act now, says Josef Kallo, founder and CTO at H2FLY.
Demand for air transport is set to increase by an average of 4.3% per annum over the next 20 years, according to the ICAO.
This rapid growth promises to boost the global economy; but on the other side of the coin, it threatens to contribute to global CO2 emissions.
As we hurtle towards net zero targets, with mounting evidence that we are veering away from reaching these targets, unchecked expansion of aviation poses a significant challenge. Not only will flights and aircraft increase, but airport infrastructure will need to expand to sustain this growth, further contributing to C02 emissions.
This current trajectory poses a significant threat to our planet. In 2023 alone, the aviation industry contributed 2.5% of global energy-related CO2 emissions, and this figure will rise. This is not sustainable.
The aviation industry must take urgent and bold steps to address its carbon levels by incorporating green energy solutions into long-term growth plans.
How can we make these plans a reality? A globally unified approach to decarbonisation that is rooted in a shared and internationally ratified policy. We’ve recently seen impressive targets being set – Spain, for example, aims to make 2.5% of all transport green hydrogen (or its derivatives) by 2030.
The solution?
Enter hydrogen fuel. In the past few years, we have made major strides, powering everything from fixed-wing aircraft to eVTOLs (electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft), even trains and HGVs. The problem isn’t hydrogen’s abundance, but how we produce it in a way that is truly sustainable, ensuring that hydrogen production doesn’t divert energy resources or energy from existing renewable infrastructure or compromise environmental goals.
The production of ‘green hydrogen’ is the ultimate goal, meaning that hydrogen is produced through electrolysis powered by renewable energy, such as solar or wind energy.
When produced in this way, hydrogen has a sustainable life cycle; a viable, long-term solution for an alternative energy source. While governments and decision-makers can pursue short-term solutions such as sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs), which offer immediate emissions reductions, these are unlikely to be affordable in the long term due to their extremely high energy demands and production costs.
The EU currently requires 2% of fuel made available at EU airports to be SAF, and this will rise to 6% in 2030. Yet, this fuel still only makes up 0.3% of the global jet fuel supply, and airlines are currently warning that EU targets are impossible to meet.
There is no doubt that these alternatives provide a stepping stone in the right direction. However, SAF production proves to be less environmentally friendly than it initially seems, especially when you take into consideration the land and resources required to grow the feedstock.
More must be done to adopt an energy life cycle that is sustainable throughout.
Scaling hydrogen
Hydrogen has shown strong potential as a clean fuel source, but its future commercial success depends on our ability to scale up renewable electricity. Producing green hydrogen through electrolysis requires vast amounts of clean, low-cost energy. While the cost of renewable generation has dropped significantly in recent years, we face the challenge of expanding capacity and integrating it intelligently into the grid.
Once renewable production reaches that scale, hydrogen can also serve as a valuable form of energy storage, especially for intermittent sources like wind and solar, where surplus electricity can be captured and stored for later use.
Making hydrogen a reality
Recent breakthroughs in hydrogen-electric powertrain testing are proving that hydrogen-electric aircraft are not a distant possibility, but a growing reality. The technology is advancing. However, the wider industry infrastructure and government policies must keep pace.
Individual nations are making steps in the right direction, with the Spanish government being the most recent example. However, long-term regulatory clarity will depend on sustained investment in an international strategy that enables infrastructure to scale in tandem with hydrogen-electric propulsion technology.
We would like to see more incentive structures from governments globally, such as production tax credits for green hydrogen, better mandates for sustainable fuels and carbon pricing. It is time that clean aviation becomes a shared priority.
Galvanising momentum
Hydrogen fuel cell technology is advancing rapidly, and it offers real promise for decarbonising aviation. But its success depends on early action from policymakers, investors, airports, and OEMs. Delaying preparation risks not only higher costs but missed opportunities to lead in a critical transition.
Hydrogen is no longer a distant dream, it’s an emerging reality that, if backed by the right policy, investment, and infrastructure, can transform aviation and beyond. But realising this future requires urgency, clarity, and coordination across sectors and borders. The time to act is now—not when it’s convenient, but while we still have the chance to lead with intention.
