American Airlines Invests in Universal Hydrogen
(11/10/22)
American Airlines has made an
equity investment in Universal Hydrogen, a company building a
green hydrogen distribution and logistics network for aviation.
The
investment makes American the first U.S. airline to make two
direct investments focused on the development of both
hydrogen-electric propulsion technology and the future of hydrogen
distribution logistics.
The investment also supports American’s science
based targets to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2035,
and ultimately its commitment to achieve net zero GHG emissions by
2050.
Universal Hydrogen’s fuel
distribution network uses modular hydrogen capsules that are
handled like cargo, eliminating the need for new fueling infrastructure at airports and speeding up fuel loading
operations.
American Airlines B777 reg: N735AT. Picture by Steven Howard of TravelNewsAsia.com
Universal Hydrogen anticipates starting hydrogen
deliveries for regional aircraft in 2025, with plans to expand its
services to larger, single aisle aircraft — first for auxiliary
power in the late-2020s and then as a primary fuel by the mid-2030s.
Because those segments represent two-thirds of aviation
emissions, the advances put aviation on a path to meet Paris Agreement
emissions targets.
“This technology has the potential to
be a game-changer on the industry’s path to zero-emission flight,”
said American’s Chief Financial Officer Derek Kerr. “As the
world’s largest airline, American has a responsibility to exercise
leadership in making aviation sustainable. Our investment in
Universal Hydrogen represents a vote of confidence for green
hydrogen as a key element of a sustainable future for our
industry.”
American joins Airbus Ventures, GE Aviation and
Toyota Ventures, as well as several major hydrogen producers and
aircraft lessors, as strategic investors in Universal Hydrogen.
“Together with our investors, we are putting together the
end-to-end value chain to make hydrogen aviation a near-term
commercial reality,” said Paul Eremenko, co-founder and CEO of
Universal Hydrogen. “This move by American is a strong signal that
customers want a true zero-emissions solution for passenger
aviation and are willing to back tangible, pragmatic steps to get
there quickly.”
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