Successful Integration and Commissioning of a Liquid Hydrogen Storage System for Hydrogen-electric Aircraft by H2FLY and Associates Marks a Historic First in the Industry
H2FLY Achieves Milestone with Liquid Hydrogen Coupling Test
H2FLY, a pioneering German company in the field of hydrogen fuel cell systems for aircraft, has made history by successfully performing on-ground coupling tests with an aircraft integrated liquid hydrogen tank and fuel cell system. This significant achievement is part of the European project HEAVEN, led by H2FLY, which aims to demonstrate the feasibility of using liquid, cryogenic hydrogen in aircraft.
The HEAVEN project, funded by the FCH 2 JU, is part of the "Horizon 2020" research and innovation programme. The project brings together a consortium including Air Liquide, Pipistrel Vertical Solutions, DLR German Aerospace Center, EKPO, and Fundación Ayesa.
H2FLY's success comes as the company prepares for its upcoming flight test campaign. The Stuttgart-based developer has established specialist knowledge when handling liquid hydrogen, having worked together with Air Liquide to develop new safety concepts in preparation for the coupling tests. The new liquid hydrogen storage system, designed and supplied by Air Liquide, has been successfully coupled with the fuel cell system on ground.
The HY4 aircraft, a four-seater demonstrator aircraft running on hydrogen and fuel cells, is expected to be the first passenger aircraft to fly with liquid hydrogen and fuel cells this summer. Since H2FLY was acquired by Joby Aviation in 2021, the integration allows leveraging Joby’s resources and partnerships, including work with the U.S. Department of Defense through programs like Agility Prime.
With the liquid hydrogen system commissioning complete, H2FLY's next steps for its hydrogen-electric aircraft mainly focus on further flight testing to validate performance and range improvements, scaling toward certification, and potential collaboration with larger aerospace and defense partners. These combined efforts aim to move from successful demonstration flights toward real-world operational hydrogen-electric aviation with extended range, zero emissions, and practical refueling solutions.
H2FLY was founded by a group of engineers from the German Aerospace Center and the University of Ulm. The company has a network of industry and scientific partners and is accelerating its technology development and commercialization with German and European partnerships. In 2021, H2FLY signed a strategic partnership with aircraft manufacturer Deutsche Aircraft, aiming to fly a CS25 class aircraft powered by H2FLY's hydrogen fuel cell technology in 2025.
The HY4, the world's first hydrogen-electric passenger aircraft, first took flight in 2016. Since then, H2FLY has made significant strides, setting a world altitude record for a hydrogen aircraft, flying at 7,230 feet. The company has also completed a cross-country flight from Stuttgart, Germany to Friedrichshafen, covering 77 miles, marking the first time a hydrogen-powered passenger plane has flown between two commercial airports.
As H2FLY continues to push the boundaries of hydrogen-electric aviation, it is expected that hydrogen-electric aircraft will be able to transport 40 passengers over distances of up to 2,000 kilometres (1,240 miles) in the near future. These advancements could revolutionise the aviation industry, offering extended range, zero emissions, and practical refueling solutions.
Science and technology are at the forefront as H2FLY, in collaboration with Air Liquide, develop new safety concepts for innovation in hydrogen storage, specifically liquid hydrogen. This collaborative effort is part of the HEAVEN project, which aims to demonstrate the feasibility of using liquid, cryogenic hydrogen in aircraft for zero emission flights.
The successful coupling of the new liquid hydrogen storage system, designed and supplied by Air Liquide, with the fuel cell system, signifies a significant step towards the real-world operational hydrogen-electric aviation, bringing fresh possibilities for the future of the aerospace industry.
