By GO TAKAHASHI/ Staff Writer
December 10, 2024 at 16:46 JST
Toshiba Corp. has been pioneering superconductor-based technology for the last 50 years. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
A groundbreaking partnership is taking off between Airbus and Toshiba Corp. to explore the potential of superconducting technology for the future development of hydrogen-powered aircraft.
The collaboration aims to integrate Toshiba's advanced superconducting motors into Airbus's fuel cell systems.
Announced earlier in the year by the subsidiaries of the two companies, the partnership marks a significant step toward achieving the aviation industry's goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.
"Superconducting technology holds immense promise for the future of aviation," said Tsutomu Takeuchi, executive officer at Toshiba, who oversees the company's energy businesses.
Superconducting motors, which operate with zero electrical resistance when cooled to extremely low temperatures, offer several advantages for aviation.
By enabling the flow of large electrical currents at low voltages, these motors contribute to developing more efficient and lightweight aircraft.
This is particularly beneficial for hydrogen-powered aircraft, as liquid hydrogen is stored at a temperature of minus 253 degrees, providing an ideal operating environment for superconducting technology.
Toshiba has been at the forefront of superconductivity research for more than half a century, applying this technology to fields such as cancer treatment and semiconductor manufacturing.
In 2022, the company achieved a major breakthrough by developing a compact, lightweight and high-power superconducting motor suitable for mobility applications.
Airbus, seeking to expand its technological capabilities, approached Toshiba following the establishment of its new Tokyo-based hub focused on collaborations with Japanese companies.
Airbus has set an ambitious target of commercializing hydrogen-powered aircraft by 2035.
The partnership with Toshiba represents a longer-term vision, aiming to develop even more advanced aircraft in the coming decades.
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