The new hydrogen powered ATR

??Commercial hydrogen-powered regional flights could soon be taking off! Universal Hydrogen, a US start-up, has opened a design and tests facility at Toulouse airport, to convert ATR regional aircraft to hydrogen fuel cells, stored in removable tanks.

??The American company is making strong progress in the development of its hydrogen conversion kit for the ATR 72-600 regional turboprop, in line with an ambitious schedule that calls for entry into service in 2025.

??Hydrogen provides performance equivalent to kerosene, while batteries would be too heavy to power a 60-passenger electric aircraft. Green hydrogen is generated when electricity runs through water. This means water vapor is the only emission trailing a hydrogen airplane if the electricity is from renewable sources.

??Universal hydrogen says it’s also working on developing a jet engine that can burn hydrogen for longer-haul aircraft.