Next-Gen Aviation: Who Will Rule the Skies—Hydrogen or Electric?—A Review

IF 3.6 3区计算机科学 Q2 COMPUTER SCIENCE, INFORMATION SYSTEMS

IEEE Access Pub Date : 2025-09-03 DOI:10.1109/ACCESS.2025.3605809

Saikat Chowdhury;Mona Ghassemi

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Abstract

In pursuit of net-zero aviation by 2050, fully electric and hydrogen-fueled aircraft have emerged as two leading pathways to decarbonize the aviation sector. This study examines the pathways of fully electric and hydrogen-fueled aircraft as potential solutions for achieving net-zero aviation by 2050. Through a systematic literature review, we evaluate the energy efficiency, storage requirements, infrastructure needs, and environmental impacts associated with each technology. Our findings indicate that electric aircraft offer immediate advantages for short-haul operations, including reduced operating costs and compatibility with existing infrastructure; however, the low energy density of batteries currently limits their potential. Conversely, hydrogen propulsion holds promise for long-range flights due to its high energy content, but it necessitates advancements in liquid hydrogen storage, distribution, and green hydrogen production for practical implementation. This analysis offers valuable insights for industry stakeholders and policymakers aiming to advance sustainable aviation technologies.

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新一代航空：谁将统治天空——氢还是电？——评论

为了到2050年实现航空零净排放，全电动飞机和氢燃料飞机已成为航空业脱碳的两种主要途径。本研究考察了全电动和氢燃料飞机作为到2050年实现航空零净的潜在解决方案的途径。通过系统的文献回顾，我们评估了与每种技术相关的能源效率、存储要求、基础设施需求和环境影响。我们的研究结果表明，电动飞机为短途运营提供了直接的优势，包括降低运营成本和与现有基础设施的兼容性；然而，目前电池的低能量密度限制了它们的潜力。相反，氢推进因其高能量含量而有望用于远程飞行，但它需要在液氢储存、分配和绿色氢生产方面取得进步才能实际实施。这一分析为旨在推进可持续航空技术的行业利益相关者和政策制定者提供了宝贵的见解。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

IEEE Access COMPUTER SCIENCE, INFORMATION SYSTEMSENGIN-ENGINEERING, ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC

CiteScore

9.80

自引率

7.70%

发文量

6673

审稿时长

6 weeks

期刊介绍： IEEE Access® is a multidisciplinary, open access (OA), applications-oriented, all-electronic archival journal that continuously presents the results of original research or development across all of IEEE''s fields of interest. IEEE Access will publish articles that are of high interest to readers, original, technically correct, and clearly presented. Supported by author publication charges (APC), its hallmarks are a rapid peer review and publication process with open access to all readers. Unlike IEEE''s traditional Transactions or Journals, reviews are "binary", in that reviewers will either Accept or Reject an article in the form it is submitted in order to achieve rapid turnaround. Especially encouraged are submissions on: Multidisciplinary topics, or applications-oriented articles and negative results that do not fit within the scope of IEEE''s traditional journals. Practical articles discussing new experiments or measurement techniques, interesting solutions to engineering. Development of new or improved fabrication or manufacturing techniques. Reviews or survey articles of new or evolving fields oriented to assist others in understanding the new area.