The European aviation industry has the ambition of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. Hydrogen-powered aircraft will play an important role in achieving this, and hydrogen is one of the aviation solutions expected to deliver the greatest climate benefits. At best, up to ninety percent of the aviation industry’s current carbon emissions can be eliminated by using hydrogen.
Last year saw the start of a two-year project, H2JET, in which GKN Aerospace and the Swedish Energy Agency, together with several other partners, are investing SEK 24 million in the development of key components for hydrogen-powered aircraft engines.
“The project came about when we started looking at possible future fuel alternatives and realised that hydrogen was a strong contender. We then wanted to identify different technical solutions to enable a future switch to hydrogen fuel,” explains Henrik Runnemalm, head of research at GKN Aerospace.
Competence in composites
RISE is one of the project partners, contributing its expertise in composite materials, such as within material selection, design, automated manufacturing techniques and, not least, testing and simulation design.
“Our role is to support the development of new technology. We can offer, for example, access to the facilities that GKN Aerospace lacks for testing and developing prototypes and demonstrating the resulting technology. This will also support their future development objectives and offer commercial advantages,” says Tim Unerman, project manager and researcher at RISE.
Collaboration provides new knowledge
RISE’s key understanding of this type of technology and its current maturity will enable both organisations to develop knowledge as well as experience together, he explains.
“The way in which we’re working together on this project provides an overview at system level as well as our more detailed approach.”
The collaborative efforts that arise when you bring together various areas of expertise comprise an important part of the project, Henrik explains.
“We’re creating completely new areas here, and this is where RISE comes in with its expertise in and experience of composite technology for handling hydrogen, for example. We each collaborate by contributing our share, enabling us to create new knowledge together.”
For a more sustainable society
To develop the technology that GKN Aerospace needs, RISE is currently highly focused on its part of the research central to the project. Always, however, with an eye to the bigger picture: enabling hydrogen-based aviation and, in the long run, achieving a sustainable society.
“Without these types of projects, we’ll never escape our fossil fuel dependency. These types of technologies are critical to achieving a society with lower carbon emissions,” Tim concludes.