Tokyo (SCCIJ) – Swiss explorer Bertrand Piccard, the first person to fly non-stop around the world in a balloon and the first to circumnavigate the globe in a solar-powered aircraft, wants to repeat this endeavor in a green hydrogen-powered aircraft in 2028. He projects “Climate Impulse” as a call to action.
A promotional image for the Climate Impulse hydrogen flight project (© Syensqo).
Pushing the limits
After achieving the first circumnavigations of the globe in a balloon and more recently in a solar aircraft, Swiss explorer Bertrand Piccard has unveiled his new emission-free project: a green hydrogen-powered airplane to fly non-stop around the Earth, demonstrating how concrete solutions can help build a cleaner and more efficient world.
With science company Syensqo as the main partner of this technological, environmental, and human adventure, the limits of innovation will be pushed back to enable the development of the airplane, built in France by engineer and navigator Raphaël Dinelli.
“Educating politicians”
Piccard has called for a new narrative to take the political heat out of climate action. “You still hear a lot of politicians who earnestly believe that climate action is expensive, that it is sacrificial, that we have to reduce mobility, reduce comfort, reduce economic development,” Piccard told The Ethical Corporation.
“So, we have to educate the politicians to show them that what was true 20 years ago, what was half-true 10 years ago, is today completely wrong. You have hundreds and hundreds of solutions that will stimulate economic development, employment, profit … and at the same time, will be beneficial for the population”.
Challenging task
Climate Impulse represents a technological breakthrough. Besides the production of green hydrogen from renewable energies, and its use through fuel cells to feed electric motors, the major challenge lies in maintaining liquid hydrogen at -253°C during an estimated nine days of flight.
This will require revolutionary innovations in the creation of adapted thermal tanks, opening new horizons in aviation technology. The collaboration with Syensqo will enable Climate Impulse to develop these cutting-edge systems.
Four years of preparation
After two years of research, development, and design supported by Airbus, Daher, Capgemini, and with the participation of Ariane Group, the construction of the aircraft has begun and will last two years under the direction of Dinelli. Following another two years of testing, this unique aircraft will attempt to fly non-stop all around the Equator with pilots Piccard and Dinelli.
This journey aims to restore confidence in scientific solutions for the common good. Climate Impulse functions as an environmental flagship for revolutionizing the aviation sector and beyond, showing the way to global sustainability through innovative solutions in areas traditionally considered difficult to decarbonize.
Text: Climate Impulse (Editing by SCCIJ)
