FutureFlight
How Methanol Is Staking a Claim to Be a Key Enabler for Hydrogen-fueled Aviation
U.S.-based start-up Element 1 is advancing the case for using liquid methanol as a means of producing net-zero-carbon hydrogen fuel for aircraft.
Element 1 is developing a process for making hydrogen aviation fuel from methanol.
Element 1 is developing a process for making hydrogen aviation fuel from methanol. (Image: Element 1)

There’s been a lot of talk about the potential for hydrogen to turn aviation from the environmental bête noire into a green god, and for good reason. As a clean fuel, hydrogen has the potential to substantially lower aviation’s carbon footprint. Furthermore, by offering significantly more range than battery-electric aircraft, it stands to play a huge role in enabling advanced air mobility.

While the benefits of hydrogen have been well covered, however, what hasn’t been as thoroughly discussed is how it is made. According to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, hydrogen can be produced from a variety of resources, some of the most common being natural gas, nuclear power, biomass, solar energy, and wind power.