Airbus to develop hydrogen tech for zero-carbon aircraft in UK facility

By Ovunc Kutlu

ANKARA (AA) - European multinational aerospace firm and aircraft manufacturer Airbus announced it will develop hydrogen technology in its facility in the UK.

The launch of a Zero Emission Development Centre (ZEDC) in Filton, Bristol will aim to develop a cost-competitive cryogenic fuel system by 2035, the firm said in a statement on Thursday.

The activities at Airbus' Filton facility, where 3,000 people work, include the design, engineering, and support for Airbus aircrafts' wings, fuel systems, and landing gears.

The UK government has committed on March 29 to guarantee £685 million ($863.8 million) of funding over the next three years to the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), which provides research for the UK aerospace sector, to support the development of zero-carbon and ultra-low-emission aircraft technologies.

"Establishing the ZEDC in the UK expands Airbus’ in-house industrial capabilities to design, develop, test and manufacture cryogenic hydrogen storage tanks and related systems for the ZEROe project across Airbus’ four home countries," Airbus Chief Technical Officer Sabine Klauke said in the statement.

Airbus had unveiled in September 2020 three liquid hydrogen-fueled concept aircraft named "ZEROe" that could become the first commercial zero-emission airplane by 2035.