ZeroAvia awarded UK government grant for development and flight test of liquid hydrogen fuel system

ZeroAvia today announced they have been awarded a grant towards a £10.8m project to develop a novel liquid hydrogen management system, by the UK government.

The project, co-funded through the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI )Programme, will culminate in integration of the lightweight fuel system into a Dornier 228 before a series of flight tests. 

The LH2 management system is comprised of a lightweight metallic tank design and supporting systems for filling and managing storage and distribution. Image ©zeroavia

The Liquid Hydrogen System Integration & Flight Test (LH-SIFT) project will rapidly develop a Liquid Hydrogen Management System (LHMS) and create an adaptable flight testbed capability. The testbed capability could benefit UK and global liquid hydrogen (LH2) supply chains in maturing LH2 technologies faster.

The LH2 management system developed as part of LH-SIFT is comprised of a lightweight metallic tank design and supporting systems for filling and managing storage and distribution. Consortium partners Green Resource Engineering and Gas & Liquid Controls will collaborate with ZeroAvia on fill, feed, vent and vaporiser systems. 

The project will also establish the world’s first liquid hydrogen flying commercial airframe testbed, providing unique opportunities for later projects to develop and test cryogenic aviation fuel system components in flight, building strong UK leadership in this area. 

James McMicking, Chief Strategy Officer, ZeroAvia said: “Liquid hydrogen is needed to achieve the volumetric and gravimetric energy density required by larger zero-emission aircraft that no other solution offers.

“This project will drive further evolution of liquid hydrogen technology and provide the capability to test and validate these in–flight and through refuelling operations.

“With UK capabilities at the heart of this project, it represents a great opportunity for the UK’s advanced manufacturing supply chain.”  

UK Government Industry Minister Sarah Jones speaking in reference to this project and other ATI investments announced, said: “This government is backing our aerospace sector to soar and this investment will  keep it at the forefront of innovation, not only delivering economic growth but boosting the charge to net zero 2030, two key pillars of our Plan for Change.”

For more information, visit www.zeroavia.com.