Airbus is putting the brakes on its zero-emission hydrogen-powered aircraft project, on account of technical challenges and slower adoption of the technology, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The company, which previously targeted to launch the aircraft by 2035, spent more than $1.7B on the project, sources told WSJ. Airbus has since cut the project's budget by a quarter and reallocated staff, pushing its timeline by as much as a decade.
Project challenges include reconfiguring engines to run on a different fuel, storing hydrogen in liquid form at -423°F, and requiring a new supply chain for the fuel. Airbus has been exploring using fuel cells, but the additional weight and limited electricity generation would lead to fewer seats and a narrower range for the aircraft.
The company said delaying the project would give it more time to fine-tune the technology. "Our destination is not changing," said Bruno Fichefeux, its head of future programs. "To get there, we need to adjust to reality."
In an earnings call in February, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said pushing the project's timeline would provide time to further develop the performance of fuel cell propulsion and liquid hydrogen system technologies.
Many companies have been scaling back their green initiatives, and broader enthusiasm for hydrogen is fading. Oil giant BP, which is pivoting back to fossil fuels, and Finland's Neste recently pulled plans for new hydrogen plants.
Subscribe to the newsletter
Daily decarbonization data and news delivered to your inbox
Follow the money flow of climate, technology, and energy investments to uncover new opportunities and jobs.
Companies
Latest issues
-
Deep Sky's Alberta DAC Project Gets Its First Pre-Issuance Rating
Inside This Issue ⭐ Deep Sky Receives First Pre-Issuance DAC Rating ♻️ Casella Waste Systems and Waga Energy Bring Third RNG Facility Online at McKean Landfill 🌐 Sinopec and International Partners...
-
Montana Renewables Cuts SAF Cost to $137M
Inside This Issue ✈️ Montana Renewables Announces Innovative, Capital-Efficient Expansion to 200 Million Gallons of Sustainable Aviation Fuel ⚗️ Live Oak Starts Competitive FEED for Nebraska E-Met...
-
CF Industries Breaks Ground on $3.7B Blue Point
Inside This Issue 🏗️ Construction Begins on Blue Point Project 🧪 Commencement of FEED for the Live Oak Project for e-NG Production in Nebraska 🍁 Mercer International Secures C$20 Million Canadian ...
Company Announcements
-
Deep Sky Receives First Pre-Issuance DAC Rating
Pre-Issuance Rating for Deep Sky One Follows New DAC-Specific Integrity Framework with Sylvera Deep Sky, the world’s first technology-agnostic carbon removal project developer, has received an AAA...
-
Sinopec And International Partners Launch Initiative To Advance Global CCUS Cooperation
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (HKG: 0386, "Sinopec") joined the International CCUS Technology Innovation Cooperation Organization, the...
-
Casella Waste Systems and Waga Energy Bring Third RNG Facility Online at McKean Landfill
RUTLAND, Vt., Sept. 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CWST), a regional solid waste, recycling and resource management services company in the Eastern United States,...
-
Methanol Qualified As A Feedstock For Sustainable Aviation Fuel
The more than 23,000 large aircraft worldwide consume approximately 350 billion liters of fuel annually and account for about 3 percent of human-caused CO2 emissions. For long-haul flights over 4,0...