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Green hydrogen set to revolutionise air & maritime transport

Development of green hydrogen technology & sustainable transport fuels is substantially bolstered by the recent COP 29 Hydrogen Declaration

Planet: Environmental impacts

Passenger transport

Publication date: 26 Nov 2024

By John Gaisford

AT A GLANCE

  • The commitment to decarbonise now drives the development of green hydrogen and other sustainable transport fuels as low-carbon alternatives.

  • Worldwide multi-stakeholder infrastructure development is advancing adaption of port and aviation operations to low-emission fuels.

  • Global policy alignment and increasing economic viability will draw significant further investment.

The COP 29 2024 Hydrogen Declaration underscores global commitments to hydrogen and other sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) in decarbonising the aviation and maritime sectors. This, however, faces extensive challenges, due to high costs and logistical complexities of green hydrogen and SAF production. Airlines and ports are tackling this through strategic alliances with leaders in hydrogen-electric technology. American Airlines is partnering with ZeroAvia  and Embraer’s Energia Advisory Group to advance hydrogen-electric propulsion, while United Airlines has invested in Electric Hydrogen (EH2) to promote green hydrogen production and SAF initiatives.

Hydrogen infrastructure

Hydrogen infrastructure is crucial to adapting aviation and maritime operations. Key examples are the H2Portsproject and Lufthansa Technik's Hydrogen Aviation Lab, while Port of Valencia’s collaboration with MSC Terminal Valencia (MSCTV) is also pilot-testing hydrogen-based technologies. Globally, organisations like CA100+ and the Hydrogen Breakthrough Agenda advocate for regulations and funding to grow SAF and hydrogen infrastructure via coordinated policies and stakeholder engagement.

Aligning global policy

Global policy alignment advocated by CA100+ aims to drive investments and standardised frameworks across borders to support SAF and hydrogen innovations. CA100+ issued specific recommendations for investors working closely with aviation firms to lobby for policy measures that promote investment, certification, and financial incentives. Among the recommended measures are national-level frameworks to support low-carbon hydrogen strategies, intended to fast-track industry-wide decarbonisation.

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Decarbonisation pathways

Decarbonisation of aviation and maritime transport is beginning to advance through investments in hydrogen-electric powertrains, biomethane and SAF, as viable alternatives to traditional fuels.This is seen in Carnival Corporation’s exploration of various low-carbon fuel options, to achieve significant carbon reductions across its fleet by the 2030s, as well as ZeroAvia’s progress in green hydrogen-powered aviation technology. Today, multiple research breakthroughs continue to drive investment.

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Great economic viability

Investments in hydrogen and SAF projects are increasingly viable around the world, particularly if driven by public-private partnerships, such as the Saldanha Bay green hydrogen industrial zone project in South Africa. Indeed, bolstered by public-private partnerships and reinforced by global frameworks like the COP29 Hydrogen Declaration, investments from major players such as American Airlines and Barclays are reinforcing the development and viability of more green hydrogen and SAF projects.

FURTHER READING