China’s push for hydrogen-powered planes takes step forward amid Iran energy crisis

he plane pictured during its maiden flight.

Photo: CCTV A Chinese cargo plane powered by a hydrogen-fuelled engine has successfully completed its maiden flight, marking a milestone in China’s push for green aviation.

The 7.5-tonne uncrewed aircraft is powered by the world’s most powerful hydrogen turboprop of its kind, capable of generating more than 1 megawatt.

The engine operated normally and remained in good condition throughout the 16-minute test flight on Saturday, state news agency Xinhua reported, citing the Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC), its developer.

The aircraft covered 36km (22 miles) at a speed of 220km/h (137mph), flying at an altitude of 300 metres (985 feet).

After completing all scheduled manoeuvres, it returned to an airport in Zhuzhou in central Hunan province, according to the report.

The successful maiden flight came days after the turboprop successfully completed full ground-tests on March 29.

Xinhua said the successful maiden flight meant China has established a “complete technological chain” in hydrogen-fuelled aviation engines, covering everything from core components to full engine integration, “laying the foundation for the industrial application of hydrogen energy in aviation”.

With its high energy density and zero emissions, hydrogen fuel is a promising solution for decarbonising the aviation industry.

The plane’s maiden flight came at a time when the world economy is teetering on the brink of recession following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping route, by Iran following the US-Israeli attacks.

Fuel prices have skyrocketed as a result and a string of major airlines have announced additional fuel surcharges on passengers to cope with the cost crisis.

But hydrogen power will need to overcome several technical and policy hurdles before commercial passenger flight becomes a reality.

Liquid hydrogen requires heavily insulated, cryogenic fuel tanks, taking up roughly four times the volume of standard jet fuel for the same energy output.

Heavy infrastructure investment is also required to bring economic scale to production.

At present, regulatory bodies worldwide have not yet established comprehensive certification standards for commercial hydrogen flight.

The AECC indicated it would take time for the use of hydrogen aircraft to become established, saying its new engines were likely to be first used in the low-altitude economy, for example by carrying air freight to China’s islands, befor

原文链接: 南华早报