Demonstration of an integrated hydrogen fuel system for a fully electric hydrogen fuel cell powered aircraft
Programme Category
Programme Name
Programme Description
The Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking (CAJU) is a successful public-private partnership between the European Commission and the European aeronautics industry that is on the way to achieving its environmental performance targets.
The Clean Aviation JU will develop disruptive new aircraft technologies to support the European Green Deal, and climate neutrality by 2050. These technologies will deliver net greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions of no less than 30%, compared to 2020 state-of-the-art. The technological and industrial readiness will allow the deployment of new aircraft incorporating these technologies no later than 2035, enabling 75% of the world’s civil aviation fleet to be replaced by 2050. The aircraft developed will enable net CO2 reductions of up to 90% when combined with the effect of sustainable ‘drop-in’ fuels, or zero CO2 emissions in flight when using hydrogen as energy source.
Clean Aviation’s aeronautics-related research and innovation activities, focusing on breakthrough technology initiatives, will contribute to the global sustainable competitiveness of the European aviation industry. European aviation research and innovation capacity will be strengthened through the partnership, enabling new and ambitious global standards to be set.
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
Development and demonstration of the integrated hydrogen fuel system, from the hydrogen tank pressure management system to the hydrogen distribution and conditioning system, for a fully electric hydrogen fuel cell powered aircraft. This topic targets the demonstration of the critical distribution and hydrogen conditioning components, at TRL5, and the on-ground demonstration of the integrated fuel distribution system, at TRL4.
Detailed Call Description
The configurations of the Hydrogen powered aircraft concepts proposed in Clean Aviation are expected to remain tube and wing configuration, based on either a direct hydrogen combustion propulsion or a fully-electric hydrogen fuel cell propulsion, with a target Entry into Service in the 2040s. This topic focuses on the fully electric hydrogen fuel cell aircraft concept, which is expected to have a capacity around 100 passengers and a minimum design range of 1000 nautical miles.
The use of hydrogen in an aircraft will require substantial design changes compared to the aircraft concepts based on traditional hydrocarbon fuels. In this context, a main driver to demonstrate the viability of the fully electric hydrogen fuel cell aircraft will be the development and integration of a safe lightweight and reliable low pressure pump fed liquid hydrogen fuel system, capable of delivering and conditioning hydrogen, stored at the aircraft fuselage rear section, to the engines expected to be located under the aircraft wing.
The project aims to develop, deliver and demonstrate the integrated low pressure hydrogen fuel system, enabling the supply of a 2.5MW class (per engine, for a four-engine aircraft configuration), capable of powering the Clean Aviation fully electric hydrogen fuel cell powered aircraft concepts.
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
70%
The maximum EU contribution for the topic is €18.000.000.
The Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking may award up to 1 project with funding depending on the outcome of the evaluation and the complementarity of the proposed actions.
The maximum EU contribution per project funded under this topic is €18.000.000.
Proposals requesting an EU contribution above the maximum amount specified above will be declared non-eligible and will not be evaluated.
A minimum of 15% of the total EU contribution shall be allocated per proposal to Small-Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs) and/or Universities having a beneficiary status.
Proposals not meeting this condition will be declared non-eligible and will not be evaluated.
The condition should be met by involving entities under such a legal status in the meaning of Horizon Europe rules across EU Member States and countries associated to Horizon Europe
Thematic Categories
- Energy
- Environment and Climate Change
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
- Transport
Eligibility for Participation
- Businesses
- Educational Institutions
- Large Enterprises
- Legal Entities
- Other Beneficiaries
- Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
- Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
Eligibility For Participation Notes
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects.