Airbus signed a MoU with renewable energies company Fortescue Future Industries to study the use of liquid hydrogen and power-to-liquid fuels for aviation.
Technology is by far the most important overall factor for cutting carbon emissions, embracing both aircraft and engine technology and sustainable aviation fuels.
Aircraft/engine technology: upcoming aircraft and future aircraft
Aircraft/engine technology improvements includes both evolutionary change to upcoming aircraft (i.e. aircraft models already available or in the pipeline that are more efficient than most of the installed fleet) and next generation future aircraft types.
The modelling envisages that upcoming aircraft reduce emissions by between 15% and 25% over previous generation aircraft, and that future aircraft reduce emissions by between 30% and 50% compared to upcoming aircraft.
A hydrogen-powered single aisle aircraft, modelled to be introduced in 2035, would have zero carbon emissions.