In this episode of our ‘Sustainability in the Air’ podcast, Shashank Nigam, CEO of SimpliFlying, speaks with Bertrand Piccard, renowned Swiss explorer, psychiatrist and clean technology pioneer. He shares insights into his ambitious Climate Impulse project that aims to set a historic precedent by flying a hydrogen aircraft around the world non-stop in 9 days.
Piccard achieved global recognition for completing the first non-stop balloon flight around the world and for piloting Solar Impulse, the first solar-powered aircraft to circumnavigate the globe. He hails from a distinguished family of explorers and scientists. Piccard’s grandfather, Auguste Piccard, was a renowned physicist and the inventor of the pressurised capsule that allowed him to achieve the first stratospheric flight. Bertrand’s father, Jacques Piccard, continued this legacy as an oceanographer and explorer, known for his pioneering work in deep-sea submersibles, in particular his dive into the Marianna Trench, the deepest point on Earth, with the bathyscaphe Trieste, another invention of Auguste.
As the founder and chairman of the Solar Impulse Foundation, Piccard continues to advocate for environmental solutions and push the boundaries of sustainable technology.
Here are the key highlights of the conversation:
Piccard’s family legacy of exploration and innovation (2:15)
The concept and design of the Climate Impulse project (7:05)
Technical challenges of storing liquid hydrogen (9:55)
The role of SAF as an intermediate solution (14:50 & 22:14)
The importance of industry collaborations (28:55)
Apportioning the limited supply of green hydrogen (36:10)
Psychological aspects of pioneering missions (38:40)
Rapid Fire! (51:00)
Keep reading for a detailed overview of the episode.
Why green hydrogen-powered aviation matters for the future of sustainable flight
Hydrogen-powered aviation represents a significant development in the pursuit of sustainable air travel. Unlike conventional jet fuel or sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), green hydrogen offers the potential for zero-emission flights.
“The ultimate fuel is zero carbon. That means you are not even in the cycle of carbon. It’s not a question of carbon neutrality. You’re outside of carbon.”
The aviation industry currently accounts for approximately 2.5% of global CO2 emissions, which is less than the half of the emissions caused by food waste, says Piccard. While this percentage seems small, the projected growth of air travel and the challenges in finding alternative propulsion methods for long-haul flights make it a critical area for innovation.
The Climate Impulse project aims to demonstrate the feasibility of hydrogen as an aviation fuel on a global scale. By attempting a 9-day non-stop flight around the world using liquid hydrogen, the project intends to showcase the technology's potential and encourage wider adoption in the industry.
“[The Climate Impulse project’s flight with liquid hydrogen] is not just an experiment to make a record. It is something that can be implemented into commercial aviation. Our aim extends beyond just delivering a message… We seek to revolutionise air transport.”
5 takeaways from the conversation
1. Pioneering green hydrogen-powered flight with Climate Impulse
The Climate Impulse project centres around a unique aircraft designed to fly around the world nonstop using liquid hydrogen as fuel.
Piccard outlines the project’s timeline: “By 2028, if everything goes well, we should be ready to make the attempt of flying around the world, nonstop, with zero emissions.”
The aircraft features an innovative three-fuselage design. “The two big fuselages will carry the liquid hydrogen tanks. The small fuselage in the middle will carry Raphael Dinelli and me,” says Piccard. This configuration allows for sufficient hydrogen storage for the nine-day flight while accommodating the crew. The project aims to demonstrate not just the possibility of hydrogen-powered flight but also its practicality and scalability.
2. Technical innovations and challenges in hydrogen aviation
One of the primary challenges the project faces is the storage of liquid hydrogen, which requires extremely low temperatures of about -253° C. The aircraft uses a passive insulation system to keep the hydrogen in its liquid state for the duration of the 9-day flight.
However, even with excellent insulation, some hydrogen will inevitably evaporate and escape the tanks, explains Piccard:
“Some hydrogen will obviously evaporate, since we cannot have perfect insulation. The evaporated hydrogen, known as boil-off, passes through the fuel cell, where it combines with ambient air to produce water and electricity. This electricity then powers the electric motor.”
This workaround could potentially reduce hydrogen wastage, maximising the efficiency of the fuel.
3. Forging strategic partnerships for sustainable aviation
Climate Impulse’s success hinges on strategic partnerships across various sectors to address the complex challenges of hydrogen-powered aviation.
The project has main partnerships with Syensqo, which is offering crucial expertise in carbon fibre, fuel cell membranes, fuel tank insulation, and composite materials to the project.
Simultaneously, OCP, the Moroccan phosphate industry and the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), are supporting the project and helping develop hydrogen production in Morocco.
Watchmaker Breitling, which has always been a loyal supporter of Piccard’s projects, has also become a partner in Climate Impulse.
Airbus is lending its expertise to the Climate Impulse aircraft’s aerodynamic design, while Ariane Group is bringing in its experience with rocket engines to assist with hydrogen-related technologies.
These diverse partnerships are not only providing technical expertise but are also helping to scale production and navigate the complex regulatory landscapes across different countries.
4. Shaping the future of sustainable aviation
Piccard’s vision for the future of sustainable aviation extends far beyond the Climate Impulse project. He emphasises the need for a holistic approach to decarbonisation, and advocates for a multi-pronged approach to sustainable aviation. This includes making aircraft lighter to reduce fuel consumption, implementing more efficient flight routes and procedures, and gradually transitioning to zero-emission fuels like hydrogen.
However, Piccard also recognises that the transition to hydrogen-powered aviation won’t happen overnight. For the interim, Piccard considers Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) an important but transitional solution.
He argues, “With SAF, you may think you’re carbon neutral, but it can actually lead to carbon emissions because you’re releasing CO2 back into the atmosphere instead of sequestering it. This results in byproducts like NOx and microparticles, contributing to pollution. I’m not opposed to SAF, but I believe it will only be relevant for 25 years.”
Piccard also suggests increasing air travel costs to reduce unnecessary travel and generate profits, which could then be directed towards sustainable technologies.
“Aviation is sometimes far too cheap. And you have a lot of people who fly, not because they want to go somewhere, but because it is cheap,” he says.
5. The psychology of pioneering sustainable aviation
Piccard’s background in psychiatry informs his preparation strategy during his explorations, wherein he employs hypnosis techniques for mental preparation:
“With hypnosis, you can visualise potential problems in advance and devise a safe way to solve problems, in order to avoid panicking.” This approach allows him to maintain composure and make rational decisions even in high-stress situations, he adds.
Piccard also emphasises that true innovation often requires embracing uncertainty and challenges, which encourages individuals to confront doubts and enhance their capabilities. He also shares that his personal experiences in adventurous situations, such as being in a balloon far from assistance, have led to increased awareness and inner resourcefulness, ultimately resulting in greater confidence.
“Adventure is a crisis that you accept, and crisis is an adventure that you refuse.”
‘Sustainability in the Air’ is the world’s leading podcast dedicated to sustainable aviation. Through in-depth conversations with top aviation leaders, we break through the clutter and provide a clear roadmap for a net-zero future.
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Why the world’s best-known explorer is backing green hydrogen-powered flying