LISTEN: Hydro-electric planes are "inevitable"

Friday 08 July 2022

The inter-island route will inevitably be run by hydrogen-electric planes, according to the owner of a company seeking to bring the technology to the islands.

Mark Harrison is the owner of GreenAir, an aviation company that has been helping develop hydrogen-electric engines with another company in the UK.

Mark Harrison has been working in the aviation industry for more than 50 years and is now pushing for a carbon neutral future.

“What we wish to do is bring eight [hydrogen-electric] planes to the Channel Islands and operate the Alderney, Guernsey, Jersey route, to relieve the ATRs that are currently operating that route and to make those routes zero carbon,” said Mr Harrison. 

Pictured: Mr Harrison says hydrogen-electric planes are the future of air travel.

Mr Harrison argues that the hydrogen-electric future is inevitable and the Channel Islands could be the leaders in green aviation.

"All the major aviation manufacturers are moving towards hydrogen-electric propulsion," he said.

"The sub regional aircraft [8 seats or fewer] will be hydrogen and electric, with the hydrogen being in a gaseous state. The regional aircraft will be hydrogen-electric, with the hydrogen being in a liquid state and transatlantic flights will be run on pure liquid hydrogen."

Pictured: Mr Harrison says we could see hydrogen powered transatlantic flights being the norm by 2035.

Mr Harrison continued: "Hydrogen-electric is the way forward. What we’re using is green hydrogen – hydrogen manufactured from sustainable sources- and we convert that into electricity through hydrogen fuel cells.

"Every time something has gone to the moon it has hydrogen fuel cells."

You can listen to the full interview with Mr Harrison below: