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Coventry University researchers working to make air travel greener and cleaner
Monday 23 September 2024
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Coventry University is working on an industrial project aimed at developing zero-emission propulsion technology for commercial passenger aircraft.
ZeroAvia, a leader in hydrogen-electric aviation, is spearheading the consortium after securing a £10.5 million grant from the UK Government, through the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) strategic programme.
The Advanced Fuel Cell for Aviation Decarbonisation (AFCAD) project has been designed to further develop its high temperature proton exchange membrane (HTPEM) fuel cell technology.
The university's expertise will be instrumental in driving forward the development of high-performance fuel cell technology, contributing to the UK's leadership in clean aviation.
The university’s Research Centre for E-Mobility and Clean Growth (CECG) will be aiming to advance techniques to measure the performance of new hydrogen fuel cells. While current methods typically only measure the fuel cell's output, CECG seeks to deliver more detailed measurements relating to the fuel cell’s internal components and operating conditions.
By providing a much more detailed understanding of its internal workings, the Coventry team aims to accelerate the development of ZeroAvia’s HTPEM fuel cell technology whilst ensuring that it meets the aviation sector’s stringent performance and durability requirements.
In addition to developing the fuel cell technology, the project will also focus on enhancing the UK supply chain and advancing manufacturing pathways. This holistic approach is expected to accelerate the commercialisation of zero-emission propulsion systems for aircrafts larger than 20 seats.
We are incredibly excited to be working with this team on the development of game-changing high temperature PEM fuel cell technology. Coventry University’s work within AFCAD draws on our expertise in fuel cell instrumentation, diagnostics and testing.
Coventry University will be helping ZeroAvia to demonstrate the capabilities of their next-generation fuel cell hardware by performing detailed characterisation at our state-of-the-art Hydrogen Energy Applications Laboratory. We look forward to playing our part in accelerating the journey to zero emission aviation.
Oliver Curnick, Professor of Electrochemical Engineering, Research Centre for E-Mobility and Clean Growth
This project sees ZeroAvia collaborating with a consortium of prestigious partners, including Coventry University, the University of Kent, and the University of Sheffield's Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre.
This joint effort will focus on developing key components and complete High Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane (HTPEM) systems stacks, showcasing levels of specific power and durability crucial for commercial aviation.
The ATI has identified hydrogen as the likely fuel of the future for aviation and put fuel cells with higher specific power as a major priority on its technology roadmap. The award of this project recognises that ZeroAvia is best placed to develop this technology and that the UK can garner strong industrial advantage from establishing leadership in high temperature PEM fuel cells for aviation and beyond.
Val Miftakhov, Founder and CEO, ZeroAvia
With the support of ATI and the collaborative efforts of leading academic and industrial partners, the AFCAD project is poised to make significant strides in achieving zero-emission aviation, paving the way for a cleaner and more sustainable future in air travel.
Find out more about the AFCAD project.
Find out more about the Research Centre for E-Mobility and Clean Growth.
