Beyond jet fuel: the technologies poised to make flying cleaner

The 2025 Airbus Summit in Toulouse this week showcased transformative technologies poised to reduce aviation’s environmental impact, with a focus on scalable solutions and collaborative progress. From hydrogen propulsion systems to advanced climate modelling, the event highlighted advancements critical to the industry’s decarbonisation roadmap. 

Hydrogen technologies

Airbus provided updates on its hydrogen propulsion research, with advances in fuel cell systems and liquid hydrogen infrastructure. Central to its efforts is the development of 2-megawatt hydrogen fuel cell systems, which convert liquid hydrogen into electrical energy to power aircraft. 

Collaborating with Air Liquide Advanced Technologies, Airbus has also developed the Liquid Hydrogen BreadBoard (LH2BB) in Grenoble, France – a modular test platform to address hydrogen storage and distribution challenges. Bruno Fichefeux, Airbus Head of Future Programmes, said: “Hydrogen is at the heart of our commitment to decarbonise aviation. While we’ve adjusted our roadmap, our dedication to hydrogen-powered flight is unwavering.” 

Sustainable aviation fuels

The Airbus Summit highlighted technological strides to overcome SAF production bottlenecks, including efforts to diversify feedstocks and optimise fuel compatibility. Airbus shared updates on synthetic SAF production methods that use CO₂ and renewable hydrogen, thereby reducing reliance on traditional feedstocks like cooking oils. 

Julie Kitcher, Airbus Chief Sustainability Officer, stressed the urgency of scaling SAF: “SAF is anticipated to provide around 65% of the emissions reductions needed by 2050. But affordability and feedstock access remain critical challenges requiring industry-wide collaboration.” 

Airbus also unveiled a pilot “Book and Claim” system to accelerate global SAF adoption. This mechanism enables buyers to book SAF volumes and claim corresponding emissions reductions, even if the fuel is physically used elsewhere - a critical solution for operators with limited access to SAF supply chains. Julien Manhes, Airbus Head of Sustainable Aviation Fuel and Carbon Dioxide Removals, explained, “This initiative simplifies access for smaller operators and secures demand for suppliers. It’s a tangible step to prove Book and Claim’s reliability for broader regulatory and voluntary markets.”

These efforts align with recent calls from the Destination 2050 alliance which urged EU leaders to prioritise SAF industrial policies and research funding to meet net-zero goals. 

Non-CO2 emissions

At the Summit, Airbus also shared progress on mitigating non-CO₂ emissions, particularly contrails, through AI-driven climate forecasting and fuel composition studies. Airbus highlighted a joint project with Canadian academic institutions using a sensor-equipped A220 Flight Test Vehicle to measure ice crystal formation from 100% SAF combustion. This research aims to balance flight path optimisation with fuel efficiency, minimising contrail formation without significantly increasing CO₂ emissions. 

Mark Bentall, Airbus Head of R&T, explained, “Accurate climate impact models allow us to reroute flights dynamically, avoiding contrail-prone areas. Coupled with alternative fuels, this could reduce aviation’s climate impact holistically.” 

Collaboration as the catalyst for progress

Airbus highlighted its participation in over 40 global research projects, including partnerships under the EU’s Clean Aviation initiative to advance hybrid-electric propulsion and lightweight materials.

Glenn Llewellyn, Vice President of the ZEROe Project, said, “Collaboration is key - whether refining fuel cells, certifying new technologies, or shaping regulations. Progress depends on uniting engineers, policymakers, and energy providers.” 

Industry-wide call to action

Echoing the Destination 2050 alliance’s call to EU leaders, Airbus stressed the need for enhanced funding for programmes like Clean Aviation and SESAR; streamlined certification processes for emerging technologies; and policies to secure critical raw materials for batteries and composites. “The technologies exist,” said Karim Mokaddem, Airbus Head of Aircraft of Tomorrow R&T. “What we need now is a regulatory and investment framework to scale them.” 

Airbus Foundation and Solar Impulse partnership for innovation

The Summit also saw the launch of a partnership between the Airbus Foundation and Solar Impulse Foundation to scale nature-based climate solutions. 

Selected initiatives will receive €10,000 in seed funding and access to Airbus’s technical resources, with applications opening 1 April 2025. Bertrand Piccard, Solar Impulse Chairman, said, “Aerospace technology can turn ecological innovation into measurable impact, from restoring forests to building climate resilience.”