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Assertion: Hydrogen can be burned in jet engines with acceptable, minimal hydrogen leakage

Hydrogen could likely be burned in jet engines with minimal leakage. The lack of existing hydrogen-powered aircraft makes it difficult to estimate their leakage rate. However, since the mechanics of jet engines are similar to those of vehicle engines, their leakage rates are expected to be similar. The leakage rate from burning liquid hydrogen in internal combustion engines is estimated to be below 1%.1 Concerns about leakage in the hydrogen aviation industry will instead stem from the large quantities of liquid hydrogen that will need to be stored near airports.2

Sources:

Footnotes

  1. Frazer-Nash Consultancy. (2022). Fugitive hydrogen emissions in a future hydrogen economy. UK Government.

  2. Ibid.