Intelligent Energy is advancing development of its IE-FLIGHT 300 hydrogen fuel cell platform through Project HEIGHTS, a £17 million program aimed at bringing zero-emission propulsion systems closer to commercial aircraft applications.

The Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) backed initiative, launched in 2025, is developing a modular fuel cell platform for eVTOL aircraft and next-generation sub-regional aeroplanes. The program builds on technology, expertise and infrastructure developed through H2GEAR, the UK's £54 million flagship hydrogen aviation research programme, which has now been completed.

Led by GKN Aerospace and supported by the ATI, the Department for Business and Trade and Innovate UK, H2GEAR brought together industry and academic partners to develop scalable hydrogen-electric propulsion technologies for future aircraft.

For Intelligent Energy, the program delivered advances in power density, drag reduction and dynamic response, helping move hydrogen-powered flight closer to commercial reality.

Over five years, H2GEAR enabled Intelligent Energy to adapt nearly two decades of fuel cell expertise for aviation applications, advancing power density, thermal management, aircraft integration and system validation capabilities.

The programme also supported the development of a 1.3MW fuel cell test facility in Northamptonshire, enabling large-scale validation of high-power aviation systems using green hydrogen generated from onsite renewable energy. Working alongside GKN Aerospace, Intelligent Energy identified opportunities to reduce overall aircraft mass. The rapid response characteristics of its fuel cells can reduce reliance on batteries and supercapacitors while maintaining performance.

Chris Dudfield, Chief Technology Officer at Intelligent Energy, says: “H2GEAR has taken hydrogen aviation from concept to credible pathway - accelerating our technology, strengthening our position in the aerospace sector and creating the IE FLIGHT platform we are now advancing through HEIGHTS towards commercial service.”

The completion of H2GEAR comes as momentum builds behind hydrogen aviation globally. Industry analysis suggests hydrogen-powered aviation could support up to 60,000 UK jobs and contribute £37 billion to the economy by 2050 while helping the sector meet its long-term decarbonisation goals.