Hydrogen in Aviation: Evaluating the Feasibility and Benefits of a Green Fuel Alternative
Armaan Sharma, Mansur M. Arief
TL;DR
This paper assesses hydrogen as a green aviation fuel by analyzing energy-density metrics, storage needs, and system efficiency, then validating the assessment with two case studies in light and military aircraft. Hydrogen offers a high gravimetric energy density ($120\mathrm{MJ/kg}$ vs $43\mathrm{MJ/kg}$ for jet fuel) and near-zero direct emissions, enabling emissions reductions up to $74.7\%$ relative to conventional fuels, while facing significant storage and infrastructure challenges. Case-study results show substantial emissions benefits with only modest efficiency penalties (e.g., ~2.23\% in military applications) and demonstrate feasible performance for high-demand aviation roles, especially when using hybrid propulsion to balance reliability and weight. The study highlights cryogenic storage (-$253^{\circ}\mathrm{C}$) and tank placement as key design considerations and calls for targeted research into lightweight cryogenic systems, high-altitude fuel-cell optimization, and standardized fueling protocols to enable broader adoption.
Abstract
Growing concerns regarding environmental health have highlighted the aviation industry's impact and potential mitigation strategies. Previous research has indicated hydrogen's significant potential for reducing the industry's environmental impact, yet implementation challenges remain. Through analysis of light aircraft and military applications, we demonstrate that hydrogen-based systems can achieve performance metrics approaching those of traditional fuels while reducing emissions by up to 74.7%. Our findings show that hydrogen's superior energy-to-mass ratio (120 MJ/kg versus 43 MJ/kg for jet fuel) makes it particularly advantageous for aviation applications compared to battery-electric alternatives. Primary implementation challenges involve cryogenic storage systems (-253°C), tank placement optimization, and fueling infrastructure development. The observed efficiency penalties of only 2.23% in military applications suggest hydrogen's viability as a sustainable aviation fuel alternative.