Airbus Highlights Hydrogen Aircraft Tech at 2025 Summit
New concept aircraft features four 2-megawatt engines
At the 2025 Airbus Summit, Airbus provided an update on its roadmap to pioneer future commercial aviation, outlining plans for its revised ZEROe project to mature hydrogen-powered flight technologies.
Airbus reaffirmed its commitment to a commercially viable hydrogen aircraft, presenting key technology building blocks for a fully electric, fuel-cell powered aircraft – a pathway Airbus considers the most promising after years of research.
According to Airbus Head of Future Programmes Bruno Fichefeux, “Hydrogen is central to our decarbonisation commitment. While we’ve adjusted our roadmap, our dedication remains. We see fully electric, hydrogen fuel cell aircraft as having long-term potential to revolutionise air transport, complementing SAF.”
Airbus showcased a notional hydrogen aircraft concept powered by four 2-megawatt electric propulsion engines, each driven by a fuel cell system converting hydrogen and oxygen into electricity.
These systems would be supplied by two liquid hydrogen tanks. Airbus stated this concept will be refined as tests mature hydrogen storage, distribution, and propulsion technologies.
Airbus Head of the ZEROe Project Glenn Llewellyn added, “After exploring multiple hydrogen propulsion concepts, we’ve down-selected this fully electric concept. We believe it offers the necessary power density and can evolve as technology matures. We will focus on advancing storage, distribution, and propulsion systems, while advocating for the necessary regulatory framework.”
Airbus highlighted its progress, noting the successful 2023 demonstration of a 1.2MW hydrogen-propulsion system and the 2024 completion of end-to-end testing of integrated fuel cell stacks, motors, gearboxes, inverters, and heat exchangers.
Airbus, in collaboration with Air Liquide Advanced Technologies, has also developed the Liquid Hydrogen BreadBoard (LH2BB) in Grenoble, France to address liquid hydrogen handling challenges. Integrated ground testing is planned for 2027 in Munich.
Airbus emphasised it will continue to foster a hydrogen aviation economy and advocate for the necessary regulatory framework, both crucial for scaling hydrogen-powered flight.
