Space technology for Green Hydrogen

22.04.2025

Space technology for Green Hydrogen

Acad. Figovsky Oleg

As the world moves towards clean energy technologies, finding alternatives to traditional fuels is particularly challenging in the aviation industry.

For one thing, human-made flying vehicles must generate incredible amounts of thrust to combat gravity. They must also carry sufficient fuel to stay airborne for long durations across continents and oceans. By and large, electric batteries or solar power alone fail to supply both the power and longevity required for aerospace. Hydrogen, however, could provide both.Hydrogen has a few other major advantages for aviation:

- Hydrogen fuel is readily available — it can be efficiently produced as a petroleum byproduct, through electrolysis, or through other innovative technologies.

- As a liquid or pressurized gas, it’s relatively easy to transport.

- It’s also quick to refuel, unliketoday’s batteries which need a long charge time.

- Hydrogen burns cleanly, producing nothing but pure water as hydrogen atoms bond with oxygen

For all these reasons, liquid hydrogen has served as a powerful rocket fuel for many decades. More recently, aerospace applications of hydrogen have expanded to include both fuel cells and combustion fuel.

So, could hydrogen power be the future of aviation and space flight? Let’s explore this question further.

Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) Rocket Fuel

Liquid hydrogen (LH2) fuel has many benefits that make it a popular choice for secondary/upper rocket stages after solid rocket fuels provide the extra thrust for liftoff. For this reason, Liquid hydrogen (LH2) fuel has played an important role in space exploration since NASA’s Apollo program. The Saturn rockets used it for their secondary stage engines, and the NASA space shuttles used it to power their three main rocket engines.

What makes liquid hydrogen such a good rocket fuel? Here are a few of the specific benefits:

Liquid hydrogen is efficient by weight

Hydrogen has a low molecular weight, and its efficiency means it can store a substantial amount of energy within a relatively small volume. This makes it attractive as rocket fuel since engineers must balance energy density with mass constraints.

Hydrogen has a higher specific impulse

A higher specific impulse means that liquid hydrogen is able to produce more thrust for a longer time, and has a better fuel efficiency. Liquid hydrogen’s high specific impulse means it can make rockets go farther and faster while using less fuel.

Hydrogen burns clean

When hydrogen combines with oxygen to produce energy, the main byproduct is pure water vapor. This is in contrast to other fuels that release harmful gasses and pollutants when burned. The clean combustion of hydrogen helps reduce the environmental impact of space missions.

Liquid hydrogen vs. methane as rocket fuel

Advantages and disadvantages of liquid hydrogen as rocket fuel, compared to liquid methane.
Advantages	Disadvantages
Specific impulse Liquid hydrogen is able to produce more thrust for a longer time.	Lower Boiling Point Liquid hydrogen’s relatively low boiling point means fuel tanks have to be better insulated and vented.
Weight Efficiency Liquid hydrogen can store a substantial amount of energy in a relatively small mass.	Storage A kilo of hydrogen is much larger than a kilo of methane, meaning tanks have to be larger.
Cleaner Burn Liquid hydrogen produces only pure water vapor.	More Expensive Liquid hydrogen is not as cheap to produce as liquid methane.

In recent years, aerospace engineers have begun to use liquid methane to fuel rockets. So does that mean that liquid methane will replace liquid hydrogen as the liquid fuel of choice? Not necessarily, says one WHA’s hydrogen experts.

«Hydrogen certainly still plays a role in rocket propulsion, - says Danielle. Dani Murphy, PhD, who leads WHA’s hydrogen services. - Although some rockets now utilize or plan to utilize liquid methane, many others choose to use liquid hydrogen as their propellant. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. While hydrogen is the most efficient propellant by weight, has higher specific impulse, and burns cleaner, it has a lower boiling point, is more difficult to store, and is more expensive to produce and transport».

Pic. 1: The main engine of the space shuttle used liquid hydrogen fuel. Note how the hydrogen flames are almost invisible compared to the bright burn of the two solid rocket boosters on either side.

Today, hydrogen continues to show promise as a rocket propellant for both government and private industry launch systems and vehicles. The Atlas Centaur stage rocket, Delta III and IV rockets, the H-IIA rocket, and the European Ariane 5 and 6 all use LH2 rocket fuel.

WHA Industry Connection: Many of WHA’s founding engineers began their careers at NASA. WHA Principal Chemist Dr. Harold Beeson served on the team that developed the NASA Standard for Hydrogen and Hydrogen Systems.

Hydrogen Fuel Cells in Aerospace

A little closer to the ground, commercial industry and NASA have partnered to explore the benefits of hydrogen as a fuel cell system. The Pathfinder and Helios projects were developed by AeroVironment, Inc. under NASA’s Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology (ERAST) program.

Pic. 2: The Helios unmanned aircraft utilized a hydrogen fuel cell system regenerated by solar power.

These experimental long-range unmanned vehicles use a hybrid system in which hydrogen fuel cells are replenished by electrical power from solar arrays. During the day, solar cells produce electricity which separates water into hydrogen and oxygen through electrolysis. At night, the fuel cells generate electricity from the stored gasses, and the cycle continues. This unique combination offers theoretically indefinite day and night continuous operation.

WHA Industry Connection: WHA engineers provided design support for both the Pathfinder and Helios projects. These projects leveraged WHA’s unique combination of expertise in both hydrogen and oxygen systems.

Hydrogen Combustion Engines in Aviation

Fuel cells may be suitable for long-range light duty, but where do other aircraft fit in? Several major commercial airliners have their eyes on hydrogen as a clean alternative fuel for traditional turbojet and turbofan engines.

In 2020, Airbus unveiled three concepts for hydrogen-fueled aircraft, all dubbed “ZEROe for zero emission. They plan to launch the first craft by 2035, making it the world’s first zero emission commercial aircraft.

«I strongly believe that the use of hydrogen – both in synthetic fuels and as a primary power source for commercial aircraft – has the potential to significantly reduce aviation’s climate impact», - Guillaume Faury, CEO of Airbus.

Pic. 3: Airbus plans to use hydrogen as a combustion fuel for three new ZEROe concepts. Image courtesy of Airbus.

All three ZEROe concepts utilize liquid hydrogen fuel to power modified gas turbine engines. In the largest concept, hydrogen turbofans provide lift for up to 200 passengers with a range of 2,000+ miles. A smaller hydrogen turboprop design is also in the works, carrying up to 100 passengers with a range of 1,000+ miles. A bold blended-wing body design offers enhanced flexibility for hydrogen storage and distribution as well as cabin layout.

Challenges to using Hydrogen in Aerospace

Before hydrogen can see widespread use as an alternative fuel, the aerospace industry must overcome several key obstacles to adoption:

- Extreme conditions: Hydrogen has a relatively low energy density, meaning that it must be stored in large quantities for any practical application as a fuel. To compensate, modern transportation applications are pushing the limits of technology with higher pressures and extreme cryogenic temperatures.

- Public perception: Hydrogen first saw action in aviation not as a fuel, but as a lift mechanism in Zeppelins and airships as early as the mid-1800s. Although hydrogen is no longer used commercially in this capacity, historic events like the Hindenburg incident have left a mark on the industry, even though hydrogen was not the main source of fuel for the event.

- Infrastructure: Airports will require significant infrastructure changes to accommodate hydrogen transportation and refueling. Handling of hydrogen on such a large scale represents additional logistical challenges and fire/explosion hazards

WHA Industry Connection: WHA Mechanical and Forensic Engineer Dr. Dani Murphy brings a wealth of experience from NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) where she was involved in research for hydrogen infrastructure, including filling station design and safety.

WHA Supports Hydrogen Technology in Aerospace

«The transition to hydrogen, as the primary power source for these concept planes, will require decisive action from the entire aviation ecosystem. Together with the support from government and industrial partners we can rise up to this challenge to scale-up renewable energy and hydrogen for the sustainable future of the aviation industry», - Guillaume Faury, CEO of Airbus.

For decades, WHA has worked with the aerospace industry to overcome the safety challenges associated with hydrogen.

Our scientists and engineers are intimately familiar with the unique risks of hydrogen and oxygen in aerospace, having been involved in the creation of multiple global standards including NASA’s Standard for Hydrogen and Hydrogen Systems.

We have partnered with both government and private organizations to provide:

- failure analysis

- hazard analysis and design support

- custom testing

- technical training for hydrogen.

WHA is also involved in exciting new hydrogen projects on the ground, like the development of a hydrogen-powered locomotive in California.

Regardless of the application, as the hydrogen economy grows, so do the risks. WHA is proud to work with our industry partners to help ensure a safer, cleaner future for everyone — on the ground and in the skies.

Below a few of patents, that illustrated such technology

CN112922599 (A) - Biological-high-temperature gasification combined mining method for hydrogen production from coal.

The invention discloses a biological-high-temperature gasification combined mining method for hydrogen production from coal. The mining method comprises the steps that two horizontal well sets located on the same horizontal plane are drilled in a coal seam, and a casing pipe is put down for well cementation; the two wells are subjected to hydraulic fracturing at the same time, and a critical fracture network is formed; alkali treatment is conducted on the coal seam, a coal-based hydrogen-producing microorganism liquid is injected into the coal seam in two horizontal wells, strains are diffused along critical fractures, the temperature and pressure conditions of the strains are dynamically monitored to prevent the strains from being inactivated, microorganisms are promoted to peel off hydrogen-containing functional groups of coal and capture metabolism by utilizing the temperature and pressure conditions of the coal seam, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and small molecular acid are generated after multi-stage degradation of organic components in the coal, in-situ hydrocarbon separation of the coal is achieved, and hydrogen is produced; after the bottom hole pressure reaches a peak value and keeps stable, hydrogen is extracted; and for the remaining coal seam, hydrogen is produced through gasification by reaction of supercritical water and high-temperature carbon, and after gas is extracted, a combustion space area is filled through grouting. A traditional coal mining technology system is overturned through biological-high-temperature gasification multi-stage utilization, and low-carbon, green and efficient development of coal is achieved.

CN110249895 (A) - Hydrogen and oxygen symbiosis type garden green space system.

The invention discloses a hydrogen and oxygen symbiosis type garden green space system. The system comprises a green space module, a building module, a farmland module, a wetland purification module and an irrigation system, wherein the green space module and the wetland purification module are distributed naturally, the green space module comprises multiple communities composed of arbors, shrubs, herbaceous plants and lianas, and the building module and the farmland module are arranged relying on the green space module; the irrigation system comprises an impoundment landscape pool, a purification water system located at the downstream of the wetland purification module, a subsurface irrigation pipe network communicated with the purification water system, a negative hydrogen ion generation unit arranged on the subsurface irrigation pipe network and an irrigation unit communicated with the subsurface irrigation pipe network. The system is a pastoral complex green healthy hydrogen-oxygen symbiosis environmental ecosystem created by relaying on an original natural ecosystem, laying the subsurface pipe network on the basis and then combining with a hydrogen-state agricultural technology.

CN108250022 (A) - Hydrogenation alkyne removal method in front-end depropanization and front-end hydrogenation technology.

A hydrogenation alkyne removal method in a front-end depropanization and front-end hydrogenation technology uses an Fe-Mn hydrogenation catalyst to perform selective hydrofinishing on small amounts ofalkynes and dialkenes in tower top effluent of a depropanization tower in a front-end depropanization technology, and a raw material comprises, by volume, 30-40% of methane, 15-25% of hydrogen, 8-15%of ethane, 30-45% of ethylene, 5-10% of propane, 5-10% of propylene, 0.1-0.5% of propadiene, 0.5-1.0% of acetylene and 0.1-0.5% of allylene. Reaction conditions are as follows: the temperature at a first-stage inlet is 50-100 DEG C, the temperature at a second-stage inlet is 50-100 DEG C, the temperature at a third-stage inlet is 50-100 DEG C, the reaction pressure is 1.5-4.0 MPa, and the space velocity is 10000-20000 h<-1>. The carrier of the catalyst is a high temperature-resistant inorganic oxide, the active components of the catalyst at least contain Fe and Mn, and 100 mass% of the catalyst contains 5-15 mass% of Fe and 0.1-0.5 mass% of Mn. The specific surface area of the catalyst is 10-300 m<2>/g, and the pore volume is 0.2-0.65 ml/g. The catalyst adopted in the alkyne removal method has the advantages of moderate reaction activity, good operating elasticity and good ethylene selectivity, has a far lower green oil production amount than a precious metal catalyst, and has an excellent anti-poisoning performance.

CN108250019 (A) - Alkyne removal method for front-end depropanization and front-end hydrogenation technology.

An alkyne removal method for a front-end depropanization and front-end hydrogenation technology uses an Fe-Co hydrogenation catalyst to perform selective hydrofinishing on small amounts of alkynes anddialkenes in tower top effluent of a depropanization tower in a front-end depropanization technology, and a hydrogenation raw material comprises, by volume, 30-40% of methane, 15-25% of hydrogen, 8-15% of ethane, 30-45% of ethylene, 5-10% of propane, 5-10% of propylene, 0.1-0.5% of propadiene, 0.5-1.0% of acetylene and 0.1-0.5% of allylene. Reaction conditions are as follows: the temperature at afirst-stage inlet is 50-100 DEG C, the temperature at a second-stage inlet is 50-100 DEG C, the temperature at a third-stage inlet is 50-100 DEG C, the reaction pressure is 1.5-4.0 MPa, and the reaction space velocity is 10000-20000 h<-1>. The hydrogenation catalyst is an Fe series selective hydrogenation catalyst, the carrier of the catalyst is a high temperature-resistant inorganic oxide, the active components of the catalyst at least contain Fe and Co, and 100 mass% of the catalyst contains 5-12 mass% of Fe and 0.8-2.5 mass% of Co. The specific surface area of the catalyst is 10-300 m<2>/g, and the pore volume is 0.2-0.65 ml/g. The reaction activity, good operating elasticity and good ethylene selectivity, and has a far lower green oil production amount than a precious metal catalyst.

CN106554834 (A) ― Method for removing hydrogen sulfide from natural gas.

The invention relates to a method for removing hydrogen sulfide from natural gas. The method comprises the following steps: (1) at first, by using the solubility difference between different gases, taking water as the absorbing solution, and using a hydrophobic membrane to absorb hydrogen sulfide in natural gas into water in the other side so as to obtain desulfurized natural gas and sulfur containing effluent in the penetration side of the hydrophobic membrane; and (2) subjecting the sulfur containing effluent to a negative pressure desulfurization treatment to remove the hydrogen sulfide in the effluent, and collecting the hydrogen sulfide. The provided method has the advantages that water is taken as the absorbing solution, the method is green and environment-friendly; in the natural gas chemical absorbing method desulfurization technology, alcohol amine is taken as the absorbing agent, there are problems such as solvent loss, solvent foaming, solvent degradation, equipment corrosion caused by solvent degradation, and the like, the provided method solves the abovementioned problems; at the same time, the equipment occupied space is reduced, the land is saved, and the modulation processing can be realized in the area with limited space.

This Invitation to Tender invites proposals for feasibility studies for services that explore innovative uses of space technology to advance green hydrogen as a sustainable energy source. This study aims to leverage satellite communication (SatCom), satellite Earth observation (SatEO), and satellite navigation (SatNav) to support green hydrogen production, storage, and distribution. The focus is on evaluating practical applications of green hydrogen across multiple sectors, including:

- Energy

- Transportation

- Maritime

- Smart cities

By integrating space-based solutions, ESA seek to address technical challenges, enhance infrastructure, and foster a resilient hydrogen economy that contributes to net-zero carbon goals by 2050.

Proposals are encouraged to assess the feasibility of satellite-based solutions in supporting hydrogen technology, emphasising environmental sustainability, operational efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. The study should involve collaboration with user communities in relevant sectors, aiming to develop a proof of concept (PoC) and outline potential pathways for further application development.

Who can apply?

This opportunity is open to companies that intend to develop space-enabled services and products related, but not restricted, to the topics of relevance outlined above. To be eligible for funding, your team must be based in an ESA Member State: this includes the UK.

Value of space

Space technology offers significant advantages in supporting the development of a green hydrogen infrastructure:

- Satellite communication (SatCom): Provides crucial low-latency connectivity, particularly in remote locations where conventional infrastructure may be limited. This enables real-time monitoring, control, and management of hydrogen production and storage facilities. SatCom also supports the expansion of hydrogen refuelling networks by streamlining operations and ensuring reliable data transfer across hydrogen-powered vehicles and refuelling stations.

- Satellite Earth observation (SatEO): EO data helps identify optimal production sites by analysing environmental factors such as proximity to renewable energy sources and industrial sites. Additionally, SatEO can monitor emissions and evaluate the environmental impact of hydrogen initiatives over time, ensuring compliance with sustainability goals. The continuous monitoring of marine ecosystems, offshore wind resources, and land use adds significant value to the responsible expansion of hydrogen infrastructure.

- Satellite Navigation (Satnav) / Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS): GNSS supports the safe transportation and distribution of hydrogen by enabling real-time tracking and route optimisation, reducing carbon footprints and transportation costs. SatNav is critical for managing logistics and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, especially in urban areas where adherence to environmental regulations is essential.

Funding and benefits available

ESA offer funding and support to companies, both for business case assessment and for the development of new, space-based services. The offer includes:

- zero-equity funding: ESA will co-fund 80% of the acceptable cost, up to €200K, per awarded study

- technical and commercial guidance

- access to our network and partners

- ESA brand credibility

- Briefing and support

ESA will hold a supporting webinar on Wednesday 26 March at 11am CET (10am UK time): details and booking link on ESA’s website.

If you would like help to find a collaboration partner, contact Innovate UK Business Connect’s Space team.