As the demand for air travel increases, global emissions of CO2 have risen 34% in the last five years and are projected to continue rising at a rate of 3-5% annually. This fact is projected to lead aviation being responsible for 24% of global emissions by 2050. To combat this, the aviation industry must turn to low-carbon propulsion technologies or alternative fuels, such as hydrogen.
The EU recognizes hydrogen as a clean fuel that can help reduce emissions in the aviation sector. However, current technology does not enable the use of hydrogen-powered aircraft due to limitations in the storage, weight, and cost-efficiency of hydrogen. In addition, there are needed new airworthiness regulations to support it. Hydrogen's gravimetric energy density is 2.5 times greater than kerosene, but its volumetric energy density is 4 times lower which would require larger tanks on planes and pose significant limitations for cost-effectiveness on medium to long-range flights.
The H2ELIOS project is an ambitious research and development project focused on the development of an innovative hydrogen storage solution for aviation use. Hydrogen-powered aircrafts are seen as a promising solution to the problem of increasing CO2 emissions from aviation. Our goal is to contribute to the reduction of emissions and minimize the environmental impact of the aviation industry by developing a lightweight and cost-effective solution for storing liquid hydrogen. The H2ELIOS project will be at the forefront of hydrogen storage technology in aviation. Our ultimate aim is to develop a hydrogen storage system that can be seamlessly integrated into aircraft's primary structure. We will be using sustainable, lightweight polymer-based materials for the tank structure and will employ automated techniques for manufacturing to ensure close tolerances and high-quality finishes. This will not only provide a more environmentally friendly solution, but also improve the overall efficiency of the aircraft.