Hydrogen-powered Aircraft Ready for Takeoff

We know that Joby Aviation acquired German hydrogen-electric propulsion pioneer H2Fly back in 2021. But whatever they are working on has been the best kept secret of our hydrogen universe. But not every pioneer is keeping their lips sealed.

In the recent Paris Air Show, the spotlight was on a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain by Beyond Aero, a Toulouse-based startup. This powertrain, a subscale demonstrator tested successfully a few months prior, marks significant progress in the aviation sector's journey towards utilizing hydrogen as a sustainable fuel source. Hugo Tarlé, co-founder of Beyond Aero, highlighted its current utility for ultralight aviation and unveiled ambitions to power business aircraft with a 1 MW powertrain in the future. This aircraft aims for a range of 800 nautical miles, catering to about 80% of the business aircraft market, using multiple fuel cells with hybridization of batteries for extra power during take-offs. Tarlé's emphasis on the urgency to reduce CO2 emissions in the business aircraft sector underscores hydrogen's potential role in decarbonizing aviation.

Beyond Aero aims to develop a CS23 category aircraft, an EU certification for smaller aircraft with a less stringent set of requirements than larger aircrafts. This makes it a more feasible option for startups like Beyond Aero. Their inaugural aircraft would weigh less than 8.5 tonnes and accommodate between 4 to 8 passengers. Contrary to a battery-exclusive model, which Tarlé finds inadequate for achieving desired range due to weight constraints, the company sees promise in fuel cell technology with battery hybridization for phases needing extra power. Apart from propulsion, there are also challenges to address like mastering hydrogen characteristics and handling the cooling system's complexities.

Meanwhile ZeroAvia, the British startup with testing facilities in Holister California, plans to bring hydrogen-powered skies by 2025, offering retrofitting services for existing aircraft with fuel cell powertrains. While this approach might reduce the aircraft's range, it's deemed sufficient for most missions. James McMicking, ZeroAvia’s chief strategy officer, mentions their 600-kilowatt hydrogen fuel cell engine prototype being tested on a 19-seater aircraft. On the other hand, aviation behemoth Airbus is also in the race with plans to test its fuel cell engine demonstrator by 2026. Airbus' ZEROe project focuses on transforming an A380 aircraft into a flight lab demonstrator for hydrogen engine testing. Concurrently, Airbus-funded startup, UpNext, is delving into a hydrogen fuel cell engine demonstrator for the Auxiliary Power Unit of an A330 aircraft. With several key players investing in hydrogen fuel technology, the future of aviation could potentially lean towards a more sustainable and cleaner fuel alternative.

Read our coverage of hydrogen at: The Promise of Hydrogen