Power Generated Through Purely Solar Energy

On September 25, a unique gas balloon took off from the region of Gruyère, Switzerland. In a “green” approach towards energy production, the hydrogen used in the flight was produced purely by water using solar energy.

The flight was piloted by Laurent Sciboz and Nicolas Tièche, winners of the 2019 FAI Long Distance Gas Balloon World Championships (Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett).

“This flight could pave the way for future net-zero flights across Europe,” stated Sciboz. “It represents a step forward in sustainable aviation and energy production: Traditional gas balloons usually use energy from non-renewable resources. This ‘green hydrogen’ approach offers a more sustainable alternative to decarbonize a substantial part of balloon activities including hot air ballooning in the coming years.”

The “green hydrogen” was produced in a collaboration between Gruyère Hydrogen Power (GHP) and the Swiss startup GRZ Technologies. The duo used solar panels to capture sunlight, which split water molecules through a process called electrolysis. This generated the hydrogen gas needed to inflate and power the balloon.

The balloon took off from the same GHP site that houses the “green hydrogen” production plant. GHP is a subsidiary of Gruyère Energie SA, an energy supplier serving western Switzerland. The company employs two ME450 PEM electrolysis systems to generate the gas, with a system efficiency of 74 percent and the ability to produce and store up to 900 kilograms per day.

GRZ Technologies provided its solid-state hydrogen storage containers, dubbed "DASH", capable of storing between 45 and 180 kgH2 of gas. The DASH is a Plug & Play module delivered with an electrical HVAC system for simple installation and rapid airflow.

This flight follows the 67th FAI Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett, held in Münster, Germany. In this, all participating balloons operated using sustainably sourced hydrogen gas.

The solar-powered aviation concept traces back to the 1970s with initiatives like Solar Impulse, which struck gold with its record-setting global flight. Later innovations, such as the high-altitude platform station Airbus Zephyr, are part of the ongoing effort to expand sustainable aviation.

FMI: www.grz-technologies.com, www.gruyere-energie.ch