The European hydrogen-powered plane that will attempt a non-stop flight around the world

From a workshop on France's Atlantic coast, aviation pioneer Bertand Piccard and partners are feverishly ramping up preparations for a flight that could completely change the course of aviation.

When Piccard spearheaded a much-hyped flight around the world in a plane powered by sunlight a decade ago, it raised awareness about climate change but held little promise of revolutionising air travel.

Now, the 66-year-old Swiss adventurer behind Solar Impulse is aiming higher, in hopes of heading toward greener commercial flight than that of fossil fuel-powered planes today - this time using super-cold liquid hydrogen.

Climate Impulse is a project that was started last February to fly a two-seater plane around the globe non-stop over nine days fueled by what's known as green hydrogen.

That's hydrogen split out of water molecules using renewable electricity through a process called electrolysis.

The Climate Impulse team, whose backers include Airbus and a science incubator called Syensqo (pronounced "science-co") born from Belgian pharmaceuticals company Solvay, presented its first-year progress to journalists this week in Les Sables d’Olonne, an oceanside town better known as host to the Vendee Globe round-the-world sailing race.

First test flights are planned next year, but the grueling round-the-world trip is set for 2028. Made with lightweight composites, the plane is dependent on several untested innovations and is far from a sure bet.

Piccard says a major airplane manufacturer wouldn't take on the risk of producing a prototype such as Climate Impulse in case it fails.

"It’s my job to be a pioneer," he said in an interview. "We have to show it’s possible, then it’s a big incentive for the others to continue".

Even if the project is