Green hydrogen flight in New Zealand moves a step closer with proposed pathway by consortium
New Zealand Aims to Decarbonize Aviation Sector with Green Hydrogen
A new report, titled 'Launching green hydrogen powered aviation in Aotearoa New Zealand', has been released by the New Zealand Hydrogen Aviation Consortium, a partnership of six international businesses. The consortium includes Airbus, Air New Zealand, Christchurch Airport, Fortescue, Hiringa Energy, and Fabrum.
The report outlines a plan for implementing green hydrogen aviation in New Zealand, centred on developing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and integrating green hydrogen as a key energy source. New Zealand aims to significantly reduce aviation emissions and increase energy security by producing domestic SAF using renewable resources.
According to the report, up to 100,000 tonnes of green hydrogen per year could be required for hydrogen-fuelled aircraft by 2050, with most of it needed to fuel planes at Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch airports. New Zealand targets producing up to 70% of its 2050 aviation fuel demand domestically through SAF sources such as forestry residues, municipal solid waste, energy crops, and PtL fuels utilizing green hydrogen.
The pathway emphasizes scaling electrolysis powered by renewable electricity to generate hydrogen, which can combine with CO2 to form green synthetic aviation fuels as a low-carbon alternative to fossil jet fuel. Concurrent efforts include developing regional green hydrogen projects, such as Hiringa Energy’s initiatives, to build hydrogen production and refueling infrastructure supporting various sectors including aviation.
Christchurch Airport is developing a renewable energy precinct, Kōwhai Park, to provide the green energy the new generations of electric and hydrogen aircraft will require. Christchurch Airport has been recognized as a global leader in sustainability.
Airbus is working to develop the world's first hydrogen aircraft for commercial use. As a global leader in aerospace, defence, and connected services, Airbus offers modern and fuel-efficient commercial aircraft and associated services. Airbus is also a European leader in defence and one of the world's leading space businesses.
Fabrum has a strong background in aviation that includes projects to decarbonise the industry. Fabrum is currently manufacturing green hydrogen systems for ground-based infrastructure at airports and also on-board fuel tanks to carry liquid hydrogen for zero emission flights.
To enable green hydrogen aviation to take-off, New Zealand will need to scale affordable new generation renewable energy, develop transmission and distribution capacity, create policies and regulations, develop new systems and processes, and become more cost-effective to produce and supply green hydrogen.
The consortium has developed recommendations for the regulations and incentives needed to support the transition to a green hydrogen aviation system. Hiringa Energy Chief Executive, Andrew Clennett, says the report highlights the need to have physical and regulatory infrastructure in place to enable low emission aircraft to be trialled and deployed in New Zealand.
The report demonstrates how the consortium could work together to remove up to 900,000 tonnes of carbon emissions every year by 2050 through the use of hydrogen-fuelled aircraft flying New Zealand domestic routes. Christchurch Airport's sustainability approach is science-based with targets set to ensure it decarbonises at a rate that will keep global warming to 1.5 degrees. Christchurch Airport's greenhouse gas emissions have been independently audited every year since 2006 with Scope 1 emissions (those under its direct control) now nearly 90% lower than 2015 levels.
Fortescue is committed to producing green hydrogen, containing zero carbon, from renewable electricity. Fortescue is leading the green industrial revolution, acquiring and developing technology solutions for hard-to-decarbonise industries, while building a global portfolio of renewable green hydrogen and green ammonia projects.
In summary, the implementation plan in the report centers on establishing green hydrogen production powered by renewable energy, harnessing power-to-liquid synthetic fuel technologies, and producing sustainable aviation fuels domestically to decarbonize New Zealand’s aviation sector comprehensively by mid-century.
- The new report suggests a plan for integrating green hydrogen as a key energy source in New Zealand's aviation sector, aiming to significantly reduce aviation emissions.
- Up to 100,000 tonnes of green hydrogen per year could be required by 2050 for hydrogen-fuelled aircraft, primarily at Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch airports.
- New Zealand targets producing up to 70% of its 2050 aviation fuel demand domestically through SAF sources, such as forestry residues and energy crops.
- The plan emphasizes scaling electrolysis powered by renewable electricity to generate hydrogen, which can form green synthetic aviation fuels.
- To enable green hydrogen aviation, there's a need to scale affordable new generation renewable energy and develop infrastructure supporting various sectors, including aviation.
- The consortium has developed recommendations for the regulations and incentives needed to support the transition to a green hydrogen aviation system.
- As a global leader in aerospace, Airbus is working to develop the world's first hydrogen aircraft for commercial use.
- Fabrum is currently manufacturing green hydrogen systems for ground-based infrastructure and on-board fuel tanks for zero-emission flights.
- Christchurch Airport is developing a renewable energy precinct, Kōwhai Park, to provide the green energy the new generations of electric and hydrogen aircraft will require.
- Fortescue is committed to producing green hydrogen, containing zero carbon, from renewable electricity and is leading the green industrial revolution.
- Christchurch Airport's greenhouse gas emissions have been independently audited every year since 2006, with Scope 1 emissions now nearly 90% lower than 2015 levels.
- The implementation plan centers on establishing green hydrogen production powered by renewable energy, harnessing power-to-liquid synthetic fuel technologies, and producing sustainable aviation fuels domestically.
