The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) says it will launch a four-topic research and development project for the development of next-generation aircraft, including core technologies for hydrogen aircraft and drastic weight reduction of major structural components of aircraft.
By using Japan’s strengths in elemental technologies such as hydrogen and materials, the project aims to increase the ratio of participation in international joint development of airframes and engines (currently about 20-30%) and contribute to the decarbonization of the aviation sector. It will be implemented as part of the Green Innovation Fund project with a total of 2 trillion yen. The budget is 21.08 billion yen. Kawasaki will develop the core technology for hydrogen aircraft, while Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. and ShinMaywa Industries, Ltd. will develop complex shapes and dramatically reduce the weight of major structural parts of aircraft.
Source: Kankyo Business Online
PSR Analysis: The aviation industry is being hit hard worldwide by the drop in aviation demand due to the spread of the new coronavirus. However, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) expects a recovery in aviation demand in 2024 to the same level as in 2019, followed by sustained growth of about 3% per year on the back of economic growth in emerging countries and other regions.
It is also expected to have the effect of spreading the applied technology to other fields. Kawasaki Heavy Industries is a driving force in the domestic hydrogen market and has extensive knowledge of hydrogen utilization. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has already developed a domestic jet aircraft.
There are many issues to be addressed in the use of hydrogen, and it will be a long time before hydrogen-powered aircraft actually appear on the market.
I hope that this investment will promote research and that Japan will lead the world in the use of hydrogen as a next-generation energy source. PSR
Akihiro Komuro is a Research Analyst, Far East and Southeast Asia, for Power Systems Research
