German start-up is working on a series model: With the hydrogen plane on vacation

As of: 01/31/2023 4:11 p.m

Flying is considered a climate killer, but the number of flights is increasing worldwide. A Stuttgart start-up wants to revolutionize international air traffic and bring a climate-neutral hydrogen aircraft to market by 2029.

The plane that Josef Kallo wants to use to show the world that hydrogen works in aviation looks like two gliders mounted together. This double hull construction connects two cockpits with a total of four seats. In the middle, a propeller drives the “HY4”. But what is really revolutionary is behind the propeller: a fuel cell produces electrical energy by using hydrogen and oxygen from the environment. Enough energy to keep the plane flying. “In this aircraft we had the chance to show and implement the propulsion technology, the architecture of the propulsion technology and the functionality of the propulsion technology,” says Kallo.

Hydrogen aircraft for better climate protection in the future

Tim Diekmann, SWR, daily topics 10:15 p.m., January 30, 2023

New goal: flight operations until 2029

In 2016, the “HY4” took off for the first time – as the world’s first four-seat passenger aircraft with hydrogen fuel cell technology. Since then, hydrogen pioneer Kallo and his team from the Stuttgart start-up H2Fly have increased the performance and range of the plane. Up to 1500 kilometers are now possible, they say. A step forward, but still significantly less than wide-bodied aircraft with fossil kerosene engines.

The development of the four-seater is only the first step, says Kallo. Wearing a thick jacket and hood, the founder of H2Fly is standing in the icy wind on the apron at Stuttgart Airport. Next to him a short-haul plane. “This aircraft, the DO328, should later be able to fly up to 2,000 kilometers,” says Kallo. That roughly corresponds to the distance from Stuttgart to Crete that the 40-seater Dornier 328 is supposed to cover with one tank of hydrogen.

Center of excellence to advance technology

A few meters from the machine, Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann is speaking in the airport fire brigade building on the occasion of the start of the project for Germany’s first hydrogen excellence center. The state supports the construction of H2Fly with more than five million euros. The hangar on the airport site will provide test stands, workshops and laboratories to promote the development of hydrogen-electric drives.

“Hydrogen in aviation is not just a playground for curious researchers, it’s tough competition,” said the Prime Minister of the Greens. Ultimately, the question is who has the first hydrogen aircraft. Baden-Württemberg is in a good position there. “The center is an important contribution to the future of zero-emission aviation,” emphasizes Anna Christmann, the federal government’s coordinator for aerospace.

Hydrogen aircraft from Airbus by 2035

Industry giant Airbus also plays an important role in the competition for sustainable flying. By 2035, the aircraft manufacturer wants to bring a hydrogen passenger aircraft with 100 seats onto the market. Instead of fuel cells, Airbus wants to burn hydrogen in the engines.

At the same time, developments for the use of synthetic fuels, so-called eFuels, are underway. This technology has the advantage that existing fleets can continue to be used, says Karsten Benz, Professor of Air Traffic Management at Worms University. But there are still hurdles: “Synthetic fuels are currently being produced from biomass and are unfortunately not yet available in sufficient quantities,” says Benz.

Economic use questionable – infrastructure is missing

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the transport sector accounts for around a quarter of global CO2 emissions. Air traffic contributes three percent to the total global emissions. A flight from Stuttgart to Crete and back consumes around 0.82 tons of CO2 per person based on the CO2 emissions calculator of the Federal Environment Agency. Founder Kallo wants to cover the same route emission-free with his 40-seater machine DO328.

Aviation professor Benz sees problems with the necessary new hydrogen infrastructure: “Airports currently have operating systems, refueling systems for kerosene, and since aircraft have been in use for more than 20 or 30 years, parallel systems – hydrogen and conventional aviation fuel – will be necessary. ” From the scientist’s point of view, this makes the economic use questionable.

Meanwhile, the Stuttgart start-up is looking ahead: if everything goes according to plan, the hydrogen Dornier should set off on its first test flights in 2025. In 2029, the first passengers should then be able to take their seats and travel without the shame of flying.

source site