Deustche Aircraft H2FLY D328
The parties plan to fly a Dornier 328 demonstrator, zero carbon emissions, hydrogen fuel cell aircraft in 2025, whilst the project is designed to demonstrate potential for climate-neutral regional flights.
Last month H2FLY, a German start-up developing hydrogen fuel cell systems for aircraft and Deutsche Aircraft, a new German aircraft manufacturer placing climate change at the center stage of its design philosophy, announced the companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together on the research and development of Hydrogen Fuel Cell technology for commercial regional aircraft.The partnership will see the two companies convert the Dornier 328 aircraft for hydrogen flight, with the demonstrator aircraft expected to take to the skies in 2025.The programme is expected to validate the potential for hydrogen to deliver climate neutral regional air travel with up to 40 seats, while demonstrating German leadership in this important field.
Having developed from a partnership between the German Aerospace Center and the University of Ulm, H2FLY has demonstrated innovative Hydrogen Fuel Cell technology in aviation. The four-seater hydrogen-electric-powered HY4 proved successfully in multiply flight campaigns and over 70 take-offs the applicability of this technology in aviation. With its range of up to 750 km regional markets can be developed. This announcement marks the next step on the journey towards making climate neutral regional flight a reality, with the teams planning to equip the demonstrator aircraft with a 1.5MW hydrogen system, making it the most powerful hydrogen-electric-powered aircraft to date.
The project will see the companies work together on integrating the power system into the aircraft as well as defining the specific technical and certification requirements for fuel cell systems in EASA’s large aircraft class (CS25). The project is designed to complement the German Federal Government’s Aviation Strategy.
Commenting on the announcement, Prof. Dr Josef Kallo, co-founder and CEO, H2FLY, said: “Flying provides an incredibly important opportunity for humankind, but today that opportunity comes at a significant cost to our planet. Hydrogen fuel cell technology provides an opportunity for us to completely eliminate carbon and NOx emissions from regional flights and the technology to make that happen is closer than most people think. Over the past 16 years we have worked hard to demonstrate our technology on smaller aircraft, completing record breaking flights based six powertrain generations. Today we are pleased to be taking that to the next level with Deutsche Aircraft as we scale our efforts up to regional aircraft.”
Martin Nüßeler, CTO at Deutsche Aircraft, added: “Deutsche Aircraft is convinced that the higher propulsive efficiency of propeller powered aircraft will drive the change in propulsion technology and will result in reducing fuel consumption and emissions even further in the future. Combining modern propeller aircraft design with zero carbon energy sources is central to achieving climate-neutral air transportation. We are looking forward to partner with companies that do not only share our passion for the environment, but also have the technical expertise to ensure that climate-optimised aviation stays safe and reliable, we are convinced the partnership with H2FLY will move us forward on the path to applying hydrogen fuel cells in larger aircraft.”
Walter Schoefer, Spokesman of the Management Board of Flughafen Stuttgart GmbH (FSG), says: “The process of transforming aviation into a climate-friendly form of air transport is now gaining momentum in a tangible way. This partnership combines pioneering spirit and world-class science with decades of experience in aircraft engineering. We are convinced that this is a milestone on the road to zero-emission aircraft. As an airport, we are called to act as an enabler on this path. As Fairport, we want to continue to be a pioneer in the area of sustainability.”
Thomas Jarzombek, Member of the German Bundestag, Coordinator of the Federal Government for German Aerospace, made the following remarks: “From 2035 onward hybrid-electric flying has to be the new standard in Germany. I am happy about the agreed technological cooperation for a sustainable aviation made in Germany. The German Government will continue to support this path to innovation with its R&D funding program aiming to let the vision of a Zero-Emission Aircraft become reality”
About Deutsche Aircraft
Founded on the proud heritage of Dornier and Germany’s reputation for engineering design, quality and innovation, Deutsche Aircraft is the new purpose-driven German Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). Built on the heritage and expertise of 328 Support Services GmbH, the Type certificate holder of the Dornier 328 aircraft (D328® aircraft), Deutsche Aircraft will enable future development of the D328 platform and exploit future technologies and capabilities to produce a more efficient, economic and environmentally friendly aircraft to drive the future of aviation toward a zero-emission flight objective.
Together with the participation of the German Government, Deutsche Aircraft is leading the way in a new era of clean aviation and is addressing the need to protect our planet and inspire future generations, for cleaner, safer and more efficient air travel.
About H2FLY
Founded in 2014 by five engineers from the German Aerospace Center in Stuttgart and the University of Ulm, H2FLY GmbH is the global leader in the development of hydrogen fuel cell architecture for aircraft propulsion. Together with their partners from industry and academia and with European and German funding support, H2FLY was granted a permit to fly the ‘HY4’ in 2020, the world’s first passenger aircraft with a hydrogen electric propulsion. The exciting results from these tests demonstrated the potential for the technology to be scaled up to aircraft that could transport 40 passengers up to 2500km in range. After a major private capitalization round in April 2021, H2FLY is growing rapidly, further establishing its position as a leader in this field.