GKN Aerospace and advanced propulsion R&I centre IAAPS have announced a strategic partnership to develop and validate novel hydrogen technology solutions for “the decarbonisation of the aviation industry.”
In a joint press release the two organisations say “IAAPS will support GKN Aerospace’s ground-breaking H2GEAR Programme to develop a megawatt scale cryogenic electric drive system using PEM fuel cells. IAAPS will deliver key aspects of the comprehensive testing and validation programme at its new R&I centre with both green H2 production and liquid H2 storage facility. The multi-year, multi-million-pound project will encompass both component and system level testing of hybrid hydrogen and electric architecture and drive forward investment in infrastructure for the delivery of gaseous and liquid hydrogen and development of cryogenic cooling systems.
“H2GEAR is a GKN Aerospace led, pioneering UK collaboration initiative with the aim to develop a liquid hydrogen propulsion system for sub-regional aircraft that could be scaled up to larger aircraft. Liquid hydrogen is being converted to electricity within a fuel cell system. A cryogenic cooling network will be used to maximise the performance of the power distribution network and electrical machine. This electricity efficiently powers the aircraft, eliminating carbon emissions and creating a new generation of clean air travel. The H2GEAR programme is supported by £27m of ATI funding, matched by GKN Aerospace and its industrial partners.
“The collaboration is also a contribution towards the ‘UK Government’s Hydrogen Strategy’ which aims to establish a thriving low carbon hydrogen sector by 2030, driving the transition to net zero.
“IAAPS recently announced it is to establish a green hydrogen (H2) manufacturing capability at its state-of-the-art, £70m propulsion R&I facility at the Bristol & Bath Science Park, set to become operational in spring 2023. It will be the first of its kind in the Southwest of England and is a key strategic step for IAAPS, supporting research into sustainable propulsion technologies and the use of hydrogen as an alternative green fuel source, in particular in the hard to electrify sectors such as aviation, marine, off-highway and heavy-duty vehicles.”
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(Image: GKN)