Advanced hydrogen fuel cell materials and lightweight composites bring non-stop, emissions-free aviation closer to reality
Belgian chemical giant Syensqo has marked the second anniversary of its strategic partnership with Climate Impulse by confirming a decisive technological breakthrough for the ambitious project: its Aquivion® ion-exchange polymer has now been validated for use in the aircraft’s fuel cell membrane electrode assembly, a core component that underpins the range performance required for a nine-day, non-stop, zero-emission flight around the world.
Launched by explorers Bertrand Piccard and Raphaël Dinelli, Climate Impulse aims to demonstrate that long-range aviation powered entirely by green hydrogen is not a distant vision, but an achievable reality. With this latest confirmation, the project moves from concept to tangible execution.
From materials innovation to flight readiness
As the project’s main technology partner, Syensqo plays a central role in addressing the extreme technical constraints of hydrogen aviation. Beyond the fuel cell chemistry itself, the company has supplied advanced composite materials used in the aircraft’s major structures, including the wings, cockpit and fuselage, which have already been manufactured in Les Sables d’Olonnes, France.
The construction of the aircraft—described by project partners as an unprecedented engineering challenge—is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. Following completion, initial test flights are scheduled to take place in Châteauroux, marking the transition from ground development to airborne validation.
Engineering the hydrogen ecosystem
Syensqo’s contribution extends well beyond individual components. The partnership is built on system-level co-development, combining materials science, application engineering and performance testing. A key pillar of this effort is Syensqo’s green hydrogen laboratory in Bollate, Italy, which supports research and validation across the hydrogen value chain, helping accelerate development timelines while reducing technological risk.
“With our lightweight composite materials and now the confirmation of our ion-exchange polymer at the heart of the chemical reaction powering the aircraft, we are showing how advanced materials can turn the ambition of zero-emission, long-range flight into a tangible reality,” said Mike Radossich, CEO of Syensqo.
Proving what’s possible
For Climate Impulse’s initiator Bertrand Piccard, the collaboration is fundamental to the project’s existence. “Syensqo is a major strategic and technological partner, without whom the Climate Impulse project could not have been announced or even considered. Together, we are demonstrating that high-tech, lightweight materials can enable solutions once thought impossible, including clean, long-range aviation.”
The planned non-stop circumnavigation will serve not only as a record-setting flight, but as a proof-of-concept for future generations of sustainable aircraft. In line with Syensqo’s One Planet roadmap, the project highlights how cross-industry collaboration and materials innovation can help accelerate decarbonization across aviation and beyond.
If successful, Climate Impulse may redefine what is considered feasible in clean aviation—and send a powerful signal that zero-emission flight is no longer just an aspiration, but an engineering reality taking shape today.