Consortium to enable zero-emission aviation in New Zealand

Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) has announced that it is one of six international businesses that have launched a new consortium to bring zero-emission aviation to New Zealand. The Hydrogen Consortium’s vision is to support the country to pioneer the commercial deployment of green hydrogen-powered aircraft.

The partners are Airbus, FFI, Air New Zealand, energy company Hiringa Energy, liquid hydrogen company Fabrum and New Zealand’s Christchurch Airport. The Hydrogen Consortium was launched at Christchurch Airport, which is developing a 400-hectare renewable energy precinct called Kōwhai Park.

Speaking at the launch, Christchurch Airport Chief Executive Justin Watson said climate change has further strengthened the international aviation sector’s resolve to decarbonise.

“Major progress is being made,” he said. “There have been successful test flights of zero-emission aircraft already. There are new sustainable aviation fuels that can cut emissions by up to 80% and a huge amount of research is going into how to commercialise these solutions.

“The Hydrogen Consortium will see some of the world’s best experts collaborate on one of the most promising zero-emission fuels — green hydrogen.”

Airbus is working to develop and put into service the world’s first hydrogen-powered commercial passenger aircraft by 2035. In close cooperation with its partners, Airbus will factor in aviation’s requirement for hydrogen in New Zealand.

Using its hydrogen hubs at airports concept, Airbus will engage with aviation and non-aviation players to perform a complete assessment of energy supply needs to enable the operation of hydrogen-powered aircraft.

Airbus’ Vice President of the ZEROe Ecosystem Karine Guenan said the journey to sustainable aviation requires an entire ecosystem to be put into place — one that will involve key players from a variety of sectors.

“The consortium we are building brings together a number of pioneering partners with a common interest: to make hydrogen-powered aviation in New Zealand a reality,” she said.

Christchurch liquid hydrogen solutions company Fabrum has developed lightweight liquid hydrogen fuel tank technology for aviation use. Co-founder Christopher Boyle is in no doubt the future of clean aviation rests on the shoulders of green hydrogen.

“The consortium pulls together some of world’s best experts in green hydrogen — having all of these organisations around the same table will turbocharge what we all learn,” he said. “Together we’ll make a big difference in taking zero-emission aviation forward which is good news to anyone who wants to fly sustainably in the future.”

The first phase will focus on research, which will be completed by the end of 2023. The consortium will develop a vision for hydrogen aviation in New Zealand, examine the hydrogen supply chain and its challenges, assess the local aviation market’s projected hydrogen needs to 2050 and develop a pathway of policies, regulations and incentives to promote the development of hydrogen aviation.

The second phase will focus on whether hydrogen aircraft test flights can be held in New Zealand. Air New Zealand has two ambitious goals — to fly its first commercial demonstrator flight from 2026 and begin replacing its Q300 Turboprop fleet from 2030 with low-emission aircraft.

The airline’s Chief Sustainability Officer Kiri Hannifin said the consortium’s work will be important to Air New Zealand achieving those ambitions.

FFI CEO Mark Hutchinson said the coming together of such innovative organisations marked a significant moment in the pursuit of fossil fuel-free air travel.

“Fortescue Future Industries is a global green energy and technology business that will bring to the consortium its know-how in mega-scale renewables and zero-emissions green hydrogen production and delivery,” he said. “We are on a mission to eliminate fossil fuels, including from the aviation industry, and green hydrogen is the key to achieving this.”