Europe’s First Hydrogen-Powered Plane to Fly Non-Stop Around the World

Imagine a world where airplanes soar across the skies without burning fossil fuels—leaving nothing behind but water vapor. That future is closer than ever, thanks to Swiss explorer and aviator Bertrand Piccard.

Best known for his Solar Impulse project, Piccard is now setting his sights on a new aviation milestone: a non-stop, around-the-world flight powered entirely by liquid hydrogen.

The Mission: A Historic Flight

Piccard and co-pilot Raphaël Dinelli are preparing for what could be one of the most groundbreaking journeys in aviation history. Their mission? To fly non-stop along the equator using liquid hydrogen as fuel. The ambitious flight is planned for 2028, with initial test flights expected as early as next year.

The Climate Impulse project has attracted support from key industry players, including Airbus and Syensqo, a science incubator spun off from Belgian pharmaceutical giant Solvay. This week, the team shared their first-year progress in Les Sables d’Olonne, France—a city renowned as the starting point of the Vendée Globe round-the-world sailing race.

The Aircraft: A Breakthrough in Green Aviation

The Climate Impulse aircraft is a marvel of engineering. With a wingspan of 34 meters (110 feet), similar to an Airbus A320, it weighs just 5.5 tons. Constructed with lightweight composite materials, it will cruise at 180 km/h (100 knots) at an altitude of 10,000 feet (3,000 meters).

The aircraft’s revolutionary hydrogen fuel system operates by releasing liquid hydrogen from ultra-insulated tanks under its wings. This hydrogen is then converted into electricity by fuel cells, with the only emission being pure water vapor—ushering in a new era of clean aviation.

Challenges and Innovations

While promising, this mission is not without challenges. The use of liquid hydrogen in aviation is largely untested, and producing it at scale remains a hurdle. Currently, most hydrogen is derived from fossil fuels, limiting its environmental benefits. Additionally, the impact of hydrogen-powered contrails on the atmosphere is still under study.

One of the project’s most innovative aspects is its plan to harness energy from the “turbulence section” of the atmosphere. Piccard believes this technique could eventually help commercial airlines optimize fuel efficiency, reducing emissions further.

The Future of Hydrogen-Powered Aviation

Hydrogen has been used in flight for decades—mainly as a gas rather than a liquid—but liquid hydrogen offers greater energy density and extended range. With aviation contributing around 2% of global CO2 emissions, according to the International Energy Agency, transitioning to hydrogen could be a game-changer for sustainable travel.