Project description
Enabling hydrogen fuel for aviation
Hydrogen has emerged as a promising alternative green fuel and energy solution, with potential applications across a variety of sectors. It is also considered one of the most promising energy carriers for decarbonising the aviation industry, with the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions significantly. Unfortunately, key technical and safety challenges are holding back its implementation. Hydrogen’s low energy density, even as a cryogenic liquid, requires larger fuel tanks and maintenance at very low temperatures. Its flammability also affects aircraft efficiency, design, and payload capacity. The EU-funded CRYOSTAR project aims to address these challenges by developing a pioneering crash certification methodology for cryogenic hydrogen tanks integrated into the tail sections of CS-25 class aircraft.
Objective
Hydrogen is emerging as one of the most promising energy carriers for decarbonizing aviation, offering significant long-term potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, its implementation faces considerable technical and safety hurdles, particularly in relation to onboard storage and distribution. Hydrogen’s low volumetric energy density, even when stored as cryogenic liquid hydrogen (LH2), implies a need for tanks that are approximately four times larger than those used for conventional aviation fuels. This directly affects aircraft architecture, aerodynamic efficiency, and payload capability. Additionally, LH2 must be maintained at extremely low temperatures—around -253°C—which requires complex, highly insulated, and costly cryogenic tank systems. Hydrogen’s flammability and its capacity to permeate materials that are otherwise impermeable to conventional gases introduce further safety risks and demand stringent engineering countermeasures.
The CRYOSTAR project confronts these challenges through the development of a pioneering crash certification methodology for cryogenic hydrogen tanks integrated into the tail section of CS-25 class aircraft. The project’s objective is to engineer, validate, and certify advanced attachment and restraint systems capable of absorbing crash loads while ensuring structural integrity and fuel containment. A comprehensive methodology—combining numerical modeling, physical testing, and credibility assurance frameworks—will support regulatory compliance while reducing development and certification costs. The project aims to define a future certification reference in collaboration with aviation regulators such as EASA, FAA, CAA.
CRYOSTAR will achieve Certification Readiness Level (CRL) 5, targeting CRL 6 with flight validation, and Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 via full-scale drop tests on equipped fuselage sections, thus laying the foundation for safe and certifiable hydrogen-powered aviation.
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.2.5 - Climate, Energy and Mobility
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.2.5.7 - Clean, Safe and Accessible Transport and Mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-JU-RIA - HORIZON JU Research and Innovation Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-JU-Clean-Aviation-2025-01F
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
81100 Caserta
Italy
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.