Planes, trains & ships: Hydrogen’s role in clean transport

This article was originally published on 22 October 2020 and updated on 28 September 2022.

When the general public hears about hydrogen, it is usually in reference to fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). While sales of these vehicles are predicted to rise, hydrogen is actually forecast to have a far greater impact on long-haul freight, shipping and public transportation. It could also transform aviation, as the limited range and efficiency of the batteries used in electric vehicles makes them unsuitable for aircraft.

Hydrogen’s potential as an emissions-free energy carrier goes far beyond transport applications, offering the prospect of an alternative to fossil fuels that could help decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors such as heating systems and industrial processes.

Advances in transport represent one of the first steps toward realizing a hydrogen economy.

Public transport

Many parts of the world are already embracing hydrogen-fuelled public transportation. The UK’s first hydrogen-powered train has made test runs on its mainline railways, as part of efforts to phase-out diesel rolling stock. This approach would be just as green but more cost-effective than overhead electrification.

As part of plans to embrace a hydrogen-powered transport sector, the German federal government is funding the procurement of 52 hydrogen buses to operate in the Rostock district. Hydrogen FCEV buses now operate in many European countries, the US, Japan, South Korea and China.

Aviation

The International Energy Agency identifies hydrogen-based synthetic fuels as a potential solution for lowering emissions in aviation.

Electrifying the sector isn’t easy. Batteries are heavy and can compromise an aircraft’s power-to-weight ratio; they also provide limited range. These challenges must be overcome to make electric flight a viable alternative for commercial operators.