German H2FLY company has restored a small aircraft to be powered entirely by hydrogen fuel cells, making it a zero-emission aircraft.
The HY4 aircraft is the world’s first hydrogen-powered 4-seater and completed a test flight of over 100 hours.
Now the German company is developing a hydrogen power airliner, capable of carrying 40 people with a demonstration aircraft, expected to hit the skies in 2025, equipped with a 1500 kilowatt fuel cell.
“We will have an electric motor, so the propeller here will stay the same. Exactly, so we will have the fuel cell inside, and then the next part will be the Motor”, an official from the H2FLY company said.
The Aircraft was retrofitted with a hydrogen fuel cell system that replaces its traditional combustion engine.
According to a report from Allied Market Research, the global hydrogen aircraft market is expected to top 23 billion US dollars by 2030 and nearly 145 billion by 2040.
The system of aircraft, on the other hand, consists of a fuel cell stack that converts hydrogen into electrical energy to power an electric motor that drives the propeller.
Also, the aircraft is a single-engine that can carry up to 6 passengers and has a range of about 1,000 kilometers. The hydrogen fuel cell system installed by H2FLY gives the aircraft a flight time of about 3 hours.
Read Also:South African Authorities to Purchase Renewable Power from Individuals
The project is part of H2FLY’s efforts to promote the use of hydrogen fuel cells in aviation as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the aviation sector.
The company also operates a hydrogen-fuel cell-powered drone and has plans to develop a larger aircraft powered by hydrogen fuel cells.
Read Also:Honda to Start Manufacturing New Hydrogen Fuel Cell System
The restoration of Hydrogen-Powered Aircraft is a significant milestone in the development of hydrogen fuel cell technology for aviation. While hydrogen fuel cells have been used in other vehicles, such as cars and buses, their use in aircraft is still in the experimental stage.
However, if successful, hydrogen fuel cells could offer a sustainable and zero-emission alternative to traditional combustion engines in the aviation industry.
