One of the ways to address the challenges fomented by climate change is to advance green technologies like hydrogen-based power systems and its related infrastructures. Hydrogen can be used as a fuel-cell feed material, as fuel burned directly, as an energy carrier, and as an energy storage medium. Hydrogen systems can facilitate the decarbonization of industrial processes, vehicles, aircraft, and economic sectors where CO₂ emissions are difficult or expensive to reduce via electrification.
The promise in using hydrogen to power carbon-free flight has garnered lots of attention, with green hydrogen being relatively easy to produce—as long as sufficient renewable energy is available for the conversion process. Utilizing hydrogen in conjunction with fuel cells and electric motors offers great potential for regional and short-haul aviation, where battery weight is an issue. High-power semiconductors such as those made by Infineon Technologies can lead to optimization of hydrogen power conversion.
Synchronized high-power switches allow for optimal system performance, advancing electricity generation from renewables. The combination of renewable energy and Infineon’s power semiconductors enables large-scale production and use of green hydrogen. Wolfgang Granig, Lead Principal System Architect for Power Supply and Sensors, University and Partner Cooperations at Infineon, explains a hydrogen fuel-cell system intended for green aviation applications.
