H2FLY, the Stuttgart-based company specialising in the development of hydrogen fuel cell systems for aircraft, has been appointed project lead of the HEAVEN initiative. The aim of Project HEAVEN is to design, develop and integrate an aviation powertrain based on high-performance fuel cells and cryogenic technology into an existing aircraft – and then test it in flight.

H2FLY has previously held direct responsibility for the fuel cell system, the “HY4” integration platform and the aircraft system architecture (including control of the fuel cell and LH2 tank systems) and, building on this experience, will now assume leadership for the project.

As well as managing close collaboration between the partners, H2FLY will be directly responsible for the achievement of the project's goals, reporting to them to the European Commission which is funding HEAVEN together with Spain, France, Germany and Slovenia under the “Horizon 2020” research and innovation programme.

H2FLY is assuming leadership of the project as progress continues to be made on integrating the LH2 tank system. As the company announced a few weeks ago, this phase will be completed in the coming months. An extensive campaign of tests is planned to start in early 2023 with the “HY4” testbed, and the aircraft is expected to become the first passenger aircraft to fly on liquid hydrogen.

Professor Josef Kallo, co-founder and CEO of H2FLY, said: “HEAVEN is a groundbreaking project set up to advance fundamental developments in the field of hydrogen propulsion, and move a huge step closer to our goal of zero-emission aviation. We're delighted to be taking on the overall project management and further expanding the excellent cooperation with our established partners.”