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New Energy World
New Energy World embraces the whole energy industry as it connects and converges to address the decarbonisation challenge. It covers progress being made across the industry, from the dynamics under way to reduce emissions in oil and gas, through improvements to the efficiency of energy conversion and use, to cutting-edge initiatives in renewable and low carbon technologies.
First piloted flight of liquid hydrogen powered electric aircraft
20/9/2023
News
H2FLY, the Stuttgart, Germany-based developer of hydrogen-electric powertrain systems for aircraft, recently completed what is claimed to be the world’s first piloted flight of an electric aircraft powered by liquid hydrogen.
Four flights powered by liquid hydrogen were completed as part of the flight test campaign, including one flight that lasted for over three hours. The flights were completed with H2FLY’s piloted HY4 demonstrator aircraft, fitted with a hydrogen-electric fuel cell propulsion system and cryogenically stored liquid hydrogen that powered the aircraft.
Results of the test flights indicate that using liquid hydrogen in place of gaseous hydrogen will double the maximum range of the HY4 aircraft from 750 km to 1,500 km, marking a critical step towards the delivery of emissions-free, medium- and long-haul commercial flights, according to the company.
Compared with pressurised gaseous hydrogen storage (GH2), the use of liquified, cryogenic hydrogen (LH2) enables significantly lower tank weights and volume, leading to increased aircraft range and useful payload, explains H2FLY.
‘This achievement marks a watershed moment in the use of hydrogen to power aircraft. Together with our partners, we have demonstrated the viability of liquid hydrogen to support medium and long-range emissions-free flight,’ said Professor Josef Kallo, co-founder of H2FLY. ‘We are now looking ahead to scaling up our technology for regional aircraft and other applications, beginning the critical mission of decarbonising commercial aviation.’
The test campaign also marks the culmination of Project Heaven, a European-government-supported consortium assembled to demonstrate the feasibility of using liquid, cryogenic hydrogen in aircraft. Led by H2FLY, the consortium includes Air Liquide, Pipistrel Vertical Solutions, the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies and Fundación Ayesa.
New hydrogen aviation alliance
Meanwhile, a group of leading companies in the UK aviation and renewable energy sectors including EasyJet, Rolls-Royce, Airbus, Ørsted, GKN Aerospace and Bristol Airport, have established the Hydrogen in Aviation (HIA) alliance to accelerate the delivery of zero carbon aviation.
While there are various options for decarbonising the aviation sector, including sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), synthetic fuels or batteries, HIA believes that more attention should be paid to the potential of the direct use of hydrogen, it says is a ‘promising alternative-fuel option for short-haul aviation’.
