Project description
New configuration eases the path to hydrogen-powered aircraft engines
Hydrogen fuel could bring aviation a step closer to reaching net-zero emissions, yet the transition to hydrogen involves a rethinking of aircraft design. Another critical aspect is to ensure safe hydrogen distribution given the fuel’s high combustibility and rapid dispersion. Green propulsion and fuel technologies will significantly change what the fuselage architecture (the rear fuselage, the empennage structure as well as cabin and cargo) will look like. The EU-funded FASTER-H2 project will investigate advanced technologies for designing an integrated fuselage and empennage configuration to reduce production waste and increase material exploitation. This integrated fuselage concept is expected to reach a TRL 3-4 by 2025. Overall, these efforts will contribute to the sustainability and decarbonisation of the aviation industry.
Objective
The FASTER-H2 project will validate, down select, mature and demonstrate key technologies and provide the architectural integration of an ultra-efficient and hydrogen enabled integrated airframe for targeted ultra-efficient Short/Medium Range aircraft (SMR), i.e. 150-250 PAX and 1000-2000nm range.
To enable climate-neutral flight, aircraft for short and medium-range distances have to rely on ultra-efficient thermal energy-based propulsion technologies using sustainable drop-in and non-drop-in fuels. Besides propulsion, the integration aspects of the fuel tanks and distribution system as well as sustainable materials for the fuselage, empennage are essential to meet an overarching climate-neutrality of the aviation sector.
Green propulsion and fuel technologies will have a major impact on the full fuselage, including the rear fuselage, the empennage structure as well as cabin and cargo architecture in so far as the integration of storage and the integration of systems for the chosen energy source are concerned (H2, direct burn, fuel cell).
Not only do the specific properties of hydrogen necessitate a re-consideration of typical aircraft configurations, requiring new design principles formulation and fundamental validation exercises, but they also raise a large number of important follow-on questions relating to hydrogen distribution under realistic operational constraints and safety aspects.
The project will explore and exploit advanced production technologies for the integrated fuselage / empennage to reduce production waste and increase material and energy exploitation with Integrated Fuselage concept selected (maturity TRL3/4) until end of first phase in 2025. An anticipated route to TRL6 until end of the Clean Aviation programme in 2030 will ensure entry-into-service in 2035.
Fields of science
Not validated
Not validated
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-JU-IA - HORIZON JU Innovation ActionsCoordinator
21129 Hamburg
Germany
See on map
Participants (35)
Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
31700 Blagnac
See on map
51147 Koln
See on map
01510 MINANO ALAVA
See on map
Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
Participation ended
45200 Illescas
See on map
Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
45200 Illescas
See on map
Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
01510 Vitoria Gasteiz
See on map
41300 LA RINCONADA SEVILLA
See on map
67661 Kaiserslautern
See on map
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
28199 Bremen
See on map
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
80686 Munchen
See on map
01510 Minano (Alava)
See on map
48170 Zamudio
See on map
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
28906 Getafe
See on map
148 00 Praha
See on map
28850 Torrejon De Ardoz Madrid
See on map
31400 Toulouse
See on map
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
08193 Cerdanyola Del Valles Barcelona
See on map
91120 Palaiseau
See on map
1101 BM Amsterdam
See on map
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
1059 CM Amsterdam
See on map
38106 Braunschweig
See on map
2628 CN Delft
See on map
28906 Getafe
See on map
81043 Capua
See on map
28906 Madrid
See on map
28903 Getafe (Madrid)
See on map
21073 Hamburg
See on map
3001 Leuven
See on map
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
2800 Kongens Lyngby
See on map
31060 Toulouse
See on map
47151 Boecillo
See on map
00195 Roma
See on map
Participation ended
92150 Suresnes
See on map
265 04 Rio Patras
See on map
17300 Rochefort
See on map