On October 18, Kawasaki Heavy Industries signed a memorandum of intent to make joint researches aiming to operate hydrogen-powered aircrafts in Japan with Airbus of world-famous aircraft manufacturer and Kansai Airport which operates three airports in the Kansai Area.

The three companies are going to research feasibility to supply hydrogen concretely in order to realize introduction and operation of hydrogen-powered aircrafts.

At first, they will research feasibility (from each perspective of technology, economics, legal compatibility and operations) for the development of infrastructure to supply hydrogen, and then step ahead to make a practical verification such as establishing a verification project for the subject found out clearly from the research. Then, they will make out a roadmap regarding the development of infrastructure and supply of hydrogen in the three airports (Kansai International Airport, Osaka International Airport and Kobe Airport).

The three companies have so far been having cooperative relations with each other in connection with the introduction of hydrogen-powered aircrafts. Air Bus is now proceeding an infrastructure research program in order to realize the decarbonization of air ports with air ports and their partners of 14 countries including Japan, and has been discussing also with Kansai Airport as to hydrogen infrastructure since 2022.

The same discussion has been made also with Kawasaki Heavy Industries which have experiences in the fuel providing facilities for aircrafts since 2022.

In addition, according to Air Bus’s research on demand in the three airports, several tons of liquid hydrogen per day are necessary at the initial stage of introducing hydrogen aircrafts, and it is anticipated that several million tons of liquid hydrogen could be required per day in the year of 2050 when diffusion is forecasted.

It draws our attention whether the future demand for hydrogen may expand into the aircraft field other than the current demand for the commercial vehicles like truck and bus.