ITP Aero leads the consortium that will develop Spain’s first hydrogen-powered aircraft engine.

The first hydrogen-powered aircraft engine is getting closer thanks to the first national consortium that has been formed for the use of hydrogen in aircraft propulsion systems. Led by ITP Aero, this national consortium has been set up to develop the first hydrogen-powered aircraft engine, with the first tests scheduled for 2025.

The project has an investment of 12 million euros and involves companies and technology centres, as well as Spanish universities. The project is part of the Aeronautical Technology Plan managed by the Spanish Centre for Technological Development and Innovation, CDTI.

The project, called “Cryogenics, Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Combustion in Air Transport” includes four research pillars:

1. Pillar 1: development of technology for conditioning liquid hydrogen for transformation into gaseous hydrogen and its regulation for gas turbine use.
2. Pillar 2: development of a fuel cell propulsion system up to a first demonstrator including power electronics, electric motor and a propulsion element (propeller or compressor).
3. Pillar 3: basic hydrogen combustion research.
4. Pillar 4: modification of an existing engine to operate on a mixture of natural gas and hydrogen, laying the groundwork for a transition to hydrogen-only operation.

In addition, the project also includes the design and construction of a test bench to carry out tests on the engine at the INTA (National Institute for Aerospace Technology) facilities in Torrejón de Ardoz (Madrid).  

For Jaime Fernández Castañeda, Head of Technology Development and Research at ITP Aero, “this is a major technological milestone for having the first hydrogen-powered aircraft engine in Spain. This is a clear example of successful public-private collaboration, positioning the Spanish industry as a whole at the forefront of European testing of hydrogen-powered aircraft engines”.

In addition to ITP Aero, the consortium leader, the consortium is made up of DESTINUS, AJUSA and AEROTECNIC:

1. DESTINUS, a start-up whose product is a supersonic transport aircraft powered by a liquid hydrogen system and with a clear ambition for accelerated product development, including certification.
2. AJUSA, a company with a track record of more than 15 years in research and development of fuel cell applications, including ground mobility applications and with the ambition to expand its developments to new aeronautical applications.
3. AEROTECNIC, experts in the manufacture of aeronautical systems and structures for the aerospace sector.
4. These companies will be supported by technology centres and universities belonging to their collaboration networks such as TECNALIA, INTA, as well as the National Hydrogen Centre.

Contact
Louis Trollope
Communications Manager
M: (+34) 610 267 334
louisjon.trollope@itpaero.com
www.itpaero.com