The Future of Cryogenic Hydrogen Storage for Aircraft by 2035

The UK is poised to lead the global aviation sector into a new era of hydrogen-powered flight. By 2050, the UK aims to increase its market share in civil aerospace from 12% to 19%, boosting the sector’s economic contribution from £11 billion to £36 billion and expanding aerospace jobs from 116,000 to 154,000.

The successful adoption of hydrogen technology in aviation hinges on having a workforce equipped with the right skills at the right time. Without a skilled workforce, the industry cannot scale the technology effectively. This latest report addresses the changes required to build a skilled workforce for tomorrow’s hydrogen sector needs.

Hydrogen-Powered Aircraft

The ATI FlyZero project forecasts that by 2050, 90% of new aircraft could be hydrogen-powered. Airbus is developing the world’s first hydrogen commercial aircraft, set to enter service in 2035, marking the beginning of hydrogen-powered flights at UK airports.

Hydrogen Demand and Technological Challenges

• Demand: Hydrogen demand in aviation is expected to reach 20,000 tonnes annually by 2035, escalating to over 350,000 tonnes by 2050.
• Technological Challenges: Key challenges include cryogenic storage tanks, control valves, hydrogen-capable pipes, sensors, refuelling systems, and fuel cells.

Workforce and Skills Development

To adopt these technologies, it is necessary to plan ahead to ensure the workforce is prepared with the right skills, at the right time, in the right place. The National Composites Centre (NCC) has considerable experience in the hydrogen sector. In collaboration with the Workforce Foresighting Hub, they led a workforce foresighting cycle on ‘The design and use of cryogenic hydrogen storage for aircraft by 2035’, with the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) as the cycle sponsor. Together with experts from industry and education, this cycle sought to identify the future skills demands around the technology in this area. This report details future supply chain capabilities, prototype future occupational profiles, and suggested changes to current training provision to address skills challenges related to this topic.

Next Steps

The Hydrogen Skills Alliance will take the findings and recommendations and create an action plan to advance through the Skills Value Chain. The findings will be shared widely among stakeholders, industry groups, and local skills bodies to promote access to the insights gained and influence the strategic direction of workforce development initiatives. Some short to medium-term activities will include:

1. Adaptation of Training Programs: Facilitating collaborative working groups, with educators and employers to deliver timely short-term training solutions for the current workforce including short courses and continuous professional development (CPD) opportunities. Existing training programmes will be identified through the Hydrogen Skills Alliance Landscape map to minimise duplication and enable existing good quality training provision to be built upon.
2. Updating Training Frameworks: The capabilities identified in this cycle will be mapped against the Hydrogen Skills Framework, to ensure alignment with industry needs, and disseminate the findings.
3. Enhanced Collaboration: Using the UK Hydrogen Skills Strategy paper with the Workforce Foresighting Insights to gain support and encourage wider collaboration between industry stakeholders, educators, and standard-setting bodies is essential.

By addressing these areas, the aerospace industry can effectively navigate future challenges and leverage new opportunities, ensuring a skilled workforce ready for the hydrogen-powered future of aviation.