Check out the zero-emissions Solar Airship One by Euro Airship
Running on hydrogen fuel cells and solar power, Euro Airship’s Solar Airship One has the ability to fly without ever stopping. The designer is developing what they call the “commercial airship of the future”, and predict that their airship will have 80 percent less CO2 emissions and fuel consumption when compared to the standard aircraft.
With a rigid airship and a helium expansion volume of 53,000 m3, the Solar Airship One is about 151 meters long. In order to fully catch sunlight, 4,800 m2 of solar film will be applied to almost all of its surface. It gathers solar energy throughout the day and stores excess power in fuel cells that use water electrolysis to create hydrogen at night.
The airship will consist of 15 gas envelopes, each separately controlled to enable a quick response and foresee meteorological events, in order to minimize the inertia associated with the usage of helium. According to Euro Airship, the airship’s typical range is roughly 540 nautical miles.
However, by adding solar film to the upper half of the envelope to recharge the batteries, the airship can theoretically fly forever. The aircraft’s electric engines can then be powered at night by its hydrogen fuel cells.
Officials from Euro Airship stated that the Solar Airship One is appropriate considering the discussion surrounding aviation sustainability. French aerobatic pilot Dorine Bourneton, a member of the Euro Airship team, told Flying.com recently, “The goal is to educate, to catalyze the young generation. For us, it is very important because of the climate change, because of the natural disasters coming. That we need to have a new mobility, a green mobility.”
Beginning construction in 2024, Euro Airship will schedule the final assembly of their highly anticipated airship in 2025.
