Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, cilt.143, ss.650-658, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
The search for alternative fuels is becoming increasingly important for the aviation industry to achieve its carbon neutrality targets. In this context, hydrogen fuel is one of the strongest candidates with its high energy density, zero carbon emission potential and environmental sustainability. Although the environmental and technical aspects of hydrogen are frequently discussed in the literature, comparative analyses on the economic efficiency of hydrogen-powered aircraft models are quite limited. In this respect, this study brings an innovative perspective to the subject and fills an important gap in the literature. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the economic efficiency of five different hydrogen-fuelled aircraft models (FlyZero Concept Narrowbody, FlyZero Concept Midsize, FlyZero Project, HyFlyer (H2FLY HY4) and Tupolev Tu-155) and to determine which one is more efficient. To this end, Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method was applied by considering inputs such as fuel consumption, maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) and specific fuel consumption (SFC) and outputs such as passenger capacity, cruise speed and maximum range. According to the results of the analysis, FlyZero Midsize, HyFlyer and Tupolev Tu-155 models were found to be fully efficient in terms of both technical (VRS = 1.000) and scale efficiency (CRS = 1.000). In contrast, the FlyZero Concept Narrowbody (CRS: 0.641) and FlyZero Project (CRS: 0.751) models, although technically efficient, require significant scale improvements. This suggests that the operational dimensions of these two models prevent efficient resource utilization. The paper also analyzed the production types of hydrogen (grey, blue, green, turquoise) and their cost-emission profiles, revealing that green hydrogen is notable for its high production cost ($2.28–7.39/kg) despite its zero-emission advantage. Engineering parameters such as storage methods and energy density of hydrogen were also evaluated and current technological barriers for sectoral application were identified. In conclusion, by comparatively analysing the economic efficiency levels of hydrogen-fuelled aircraft, this study provides a comprehensive framework for the viability of hydrogen in aviation from both a technical and operational perspective. The findings show that efficient aircraft models need to be prioritised and inefficient models need to be optimised; they also highlight the importance of infrastructure investments, cost reduction policies and international cooperation for the integration of hydrogen into the industry.