Syensqo’s ‘Moonshot Project’ Aims Flight Around the World
If all goes as planned, a green hydrogen-powered airplane will fly nonstop around the world by 2028.
Chemical manufacturer Syensqo is the main partner in the project, called Climate Impulse. I learned about the initiative during Ryan Murphy’s presentation at the CIEX conference in Indianapolis last month.
Murphy, Syensqo’s technology director, described Climate Impulse as a “moonshot project” for the company. He was discussing the company’s efforts around digital R&D, including the use of artificial intelligence. Murphy mentioned that AI also is playing a role in the aircraft’s development.
“AI is actually involved in this as far as optimizations, flight plan and so on,” he said.
The initiative is the idea of Swiss explorer Bertrand Piccard, who has partnered with engineer and navigator Raphaël Dinelli to build the plane.
The project officially kicked off in 2024 after two years of research, development and design supported by Airbus, Daher, Capgemini and the participation of Ariane Group.
Piccard and Dinelli will attempt to fly the plane following a two-year testing phase.
The Climate Impulse team calls the project “a technological breakthrough” that uses green hydrogen from renewable energy and fuel cells to feed electric motors. However, the developers must overcome the challenge of maintaining liquid hydrogen at -253°C during an estimated nine days of flight.
Syensqo is providing composite materials, films and additives to manufacture the entire aircraft structure, its fuselage and hydrogen tanks.
“It will provide lightness, alongside mechanical and thermal properties. When it comes to green hydrogen, the company’s high-performance materials (for proton exchange membranes and binders for electrodes of the fuel cell) will be key enablers to confer exceptionally high-power density and efficiency, also allowing more compact design of the plane,” Climate Impulse noted in the news release.
For more information about the Climate Impulse project, visit www.climateimpulse.org
Editor’s note: The lead image shows Climate Impulse under construction.
About the Author
Jonathan Katz
Executive Editor
Jonathan Katz, executive editor, brings nearly two decades of experience as a B2B journalist to Chemical Processing magazine. He has expertise on a wide range of industrial topics. Jon previously served as the managing editor for IndustryWeek magazine and, most recently, as a freelance writer specializing in content marketing for the manufacturing sector.
His knowledge areas include industrial safety, environmental compliance/sustainability, lean manufacturing/continuous improvement, Industry 4.0/automation and many other topics of interest to the Chemical Processing audience.
When he’s not working, Jon enjoys fishing, hiking and music, including a small but growing vinyl collection.
Jon resides in the Cleveland, Ohio, area.