An adventure to herald the future of hydrogen-powered flight
Climate Impulse is the new environmental and technological endeavor led by Swiss pilot and explorer Bertrand Piccard. It will be the first hydrogen plane to fly non-stop around the world - a nine-day, emission-free circumnavigation of the globe that is set to create a paradigm shift.
Bertrand Piccard will undertake this journey in 2028, alongside co-pilot and composite engineer Raphaël Dinelli. Joining the adventure is Syensqo, as the first and main technological partner, and UM6P and OCP Group who, together with Syensqo, will be key players in addressing the technical challenges associated with Climate Impulse, including managing the extreme temperatures required to maintain liquid hydrogen at -253°C throughout the estimated nine-day flight. They will also be involved in designing and manufacturing suitable thermal tanks. The coming four years will be dedicated to manufacturing the aircraft’s parts and conducting test flights, including a Lindbergh-style transatlantic crossing in 2027.
Three adventures in one
At its core, Climate Impulse is a human adventure: that of Bertrand Piccard and Raphaël Dinelli, of the many teams at Syensqo who will be working to provide the unique and custom technologies that will make this challenge possible and of all those who will follow this adventure from the ground!
With breakthrough innovation at the heart of the project, Climate Impulse is also a technological adventure. Beyond the production of green hydrogen from renewable energy, maintaining it at -253°C for nine days will represent a real breakthrough in aviation technology. Climate Impulse aims to develop and test in real-life conditions cutting-edge technologies that make the impossible possible! Climate Impulse is a European project with global reach. Parts will be manufactured and test flights conducted in France.
Last but not least, Climate Impulse is an ecological adventure. The project concretely tackles the huge challenge of reducing the aviation industry’s carbon footprint, recognizing the urgent need to revolutionize this sector thanks to innovative solutions. If a round-the-world flight on a hydrogen-powered aircraft proves possible, a strong signal will be sent to the aviation industry - and to the mobility sector as a whole.
This challenge, made possible by Syensqo's expertise and technological know-how, aligns with our company’s lifelong purpose of using science to advance humanity. Our shared ambition is simple: to invent tomorrow's sustainable world.
We want to give an impulse to climate action, to show that nothing is impossible.
We have a 160-year legacy of pushing the limits of science for the benefit of society. We’ve always believed in Bertrand Piccard’s dreams and want to make them true.
With Syensqo as a main partner, Swiss explorer Bertrand Piccard unveils his new emission-free project: a green hydrogen powered airplane to fly non-stop around the Earth, demonstrating how concrete solutions can help build a cleaner and more efficient world.
