Climate Impulse

Bertrand Piccard Plans First Hydrogen-Powered Flight Around The World

They say never meet your daredevil heroes, but when I had a snatched lunch backstage with Swiss explorer Bertrand Piccard at a Covestro event some years back, I came away still more impressed. Now he has unveiled his latest emission-free project: a green-hydrogen-powered airplane designed to fly non-stop around the Earth in 2028.

With science company Syensqo (originally part of Solvay) as the main partner, the plane will be built in France by engineer and navigator Raphaël Dinelli. After two years of research, development and design supported by Airbus, Daher, Capgemini and with the participation of Ariane Group, the construction of the aircraft has begun and will last two years. Following another two years of testing, the aircraft will attempt to fly non-stop all around the Equator with pilots Piccard and Dinelli at the controls.

Alongside the production of green hydrogen from renewable energy, and the use through fuel cells to feed electric motors, the major challenge lies in maintaining liquid hydrogen at -253°C during an estimated nine days of flight. This will require revolutionary innovations in the creation of adapted thermal fuel storage tanks.

“In this world full of eco-anxiety, we need to restore hope and stimulate action by demonstrating disruptive solutions that lead to sustainable progress,” said Piccard. “Efficient solutions will unite people from citizens and environmental activists to political and business leaders, shifting the narrative from sacrifice and fear to enthusiasm and action”.