H3 Dynamics to supply fuel cells to EU-funded research project

H3 Dynamics has been selected by European Union (EU) -funded Clean Aviation research project HyPoTraDe to supply its new class of aviation-grade hydrogen fuel cell systems. 

The HyPoTraDe project aims to design and ground test a set of 500kW modular fuel cell-battery hybrid-electric distributed electric propulsion (DEP) powertrain architecture that can later be scaled to megawatt (MW) class. 

Funded by the Clean Aviation joint undertaking of the EU, HyPoTraDe is led by aircraft manufacturer, Pipistrel in partnership with Honeywell International, Netherlands Aerospace Center, Fraunhofer Society, as well as the University of Stuttgart and Delft University of Technology. Clean Aviation aims to enter regional and short-range hydrogen-powered aircraft into service in 2035.

Project data will be used to integrate hydrogen-electric powertrains into CS-23 category aircraft (under 19 seats) including commuters. The programme will also explore new ways of using the waste heat of the fuel cell to increase efficiency.

The HyPoTrade project will also create a digital twin that will be validated through data gathered during the test. The twin will enable accurate prediction of the performance of future scaled powertrains. 

Toulouse-based H3 Dynamics has previously announced joint undertakings with Airbus on a 0.5MW hydrogen-electric power system and Lyte Aviation on a 40-passenger hydrogen-electric VTOL.

Some of the HyPoTraDe project members have prior experience working with H3 Dynamics’ fuel cell solutions. TU Delft set a new Guiness World Record with H3’s fuel cells to achieve 2,499km on just 0.95kg of hydrogen – a first place finish at the Shell Ecomarathon competition finals in 2023. H3 Dynamics also supplies TU Delft’s AERODELFT Liquid Hydrogen Aircraft programme, which has designed its first liquid hydrogen-electric power train on a scaled-down version of hydrogen aircraft.