German Ministry Awards H2FLY Grant for Zero-Emission Air Travel Advancement

Hi There,

I’m getting in touch to share exciting news from H2FLY, the hydrogen fuel
cell developer. In a groundbreaking move towards sustainable aviation, the
German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) yesterday awarded
H2FLY <https://www.h2fly.de/> a substantial grant to advance its unique
hydrogen fuel cell technology.

This pioneering initiative, known as the BALIS 2.0 Project, is a
significant stride towards achieving zero-emission regional air travel and
is set to commence tests in 2025.

The project, which was unveiled today at Stuttgart Airport, focuses on
developing and testing a pioneering 350 kW fuel cell system that is
emission-free and capable of powering regional aircraft with up to 80
seats.

I have attached the press release below, and the asset pack
<https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1IxlITS9qqJnR485dF3CNin-iKx3nba79>
from yesterday’s shoot. Please let me know if you would like more
information or to arrange an interview.

Best regards,

Libby


Emission-free Aviation: German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport
Funds Project to Advance Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology




-

H2FLY, alongside its partners, is set to develop and test a powerful 350
kW fuel cell system, paving the way for zero-emission regional air travel
-

The German Federal Ministry of Digitalisation and Transport is funding
the initiative with grants of around EUR 9.3 million
-

The fuel cell system is set to be tested on the ground for the first
time in 2025


Stuttgart, May 7, 2024 – The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport
(BMDV) yesterday announced the launch of the BALIS 2.0 Project. Dr Volker
Wissing, Federal Minister for Digital and Transport, awarded the funding
document for the further development of fuel cell systems for regional
aircraft to the consortium during the project kick-off at Stuttgart Airport.

The BALIS 2.0 Project, led by H2FLY and supported by the German Aerospace
Center (DLR) and Diehl Aerospace, aims to develop and test a
high-performance fuel cell system with an output of 350 kW designed for
commercial aircraft applications. The 350 kW fuel cell system serves as a
basic module to develop hydrogen-electric powertrain systems in the
MW-class range, which could power regional aircraft with 40 – 80 seats in
the future, emission-free.

H2FLY is responsible for the development and setup of the fuel cell system.
In the BALIS test field, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) studies the
coupling behaviour of fuel cell systems in the megawatt-class range with an
electric drive and performs studies to optimise the overall system
operation. Diehl Aerospace will continue to develop its high-performance
and highly reliable platform technology to enable efficient coupling and
scaling of fuel cell systems.

From 2024 to 2026, the BALIS 2.0 project will receive EUR 9.3 million in
funding from the BMDV. Funding for this initiative is also provided as part
of the German Recovery and Resilience Plan (DARP) via the European Recovery
and Resilience Facilities (ARF) in the NextGenerationEU program. The
funding guideline is coordinated by NOW GmbH and implemented by Project
Management Jülich (PtJ). From the initial project proposal to the
completion, PtJ supports all project partners ensuring that the program
objectives are successfully achieved.

Dr Volker Wissing, Federal Minister for Digital and Transport says “I am
very proud that Germany is playing a pioneering role in developing hydrogen
fuel cell systems for commercial aviation. This creates the technical
foundation for marketable solutions for tomorrow’s CO2-neutral flying.
Companies and research institutions, like those in the BALIS 2.0 project
consortium, are leading the way with great expertise and a pioneering
spirit. The defossilisation of aviation is an immense global challenge.
Hydrogen offers great potential to significantly contribute to achieving
climate targets and realising CO2-neutral global travel and freight
transport in the future.”

Korinna Jörling, Head of the Hydrogen, Alternative Fuels and Fuel Cells
Division, NOW GmbH: “BALIS 2.0 represents a significant milestone for a
sustainable future in aviation. Developing and implementing hydrogen
technology in aviation isn’t just a major step forward, it’s also a
critical response to the urgent challenges of climate change. Investment
and innovation in this area underscore the vital role of public funding for
pioneering technologies and their transformative impact on the aviation
industry.”

Dr Stephanie Bauer, Head of PtJ: “The German government is actively driving
the transformation of the transport sector through various research and
innovation programs. A key example is the National Innovation Program for
Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology spearheaded by the BMDV. Project
Management Jülich plays a crucial role within this program, specifically
focusing on advancing aviation technologies and shaping the future of
mobility. The BALIS 2.0 project stands out not only for its groundbreaking
advancements but also for its consortium leadership by the innovative
start-up H2FLY.”

Prof Dr Josef Kallo, co-founder and CEO of H2FLY: “Federal funding for
BALIS 2.0 demonstrates the growing significance of hydrogen fuel cell
systems as a viable solution for clean aviation. The project insights will
propel the development of megawatt-class powertrains, significantly
accelerating the transition to sustainable, zero-emission flight.“

Prof Dr André Thess, Head of the DLR Institute of Engineering
Thermodynamics: „DLR’s vision is emission-free mobility. With the BALIS 2.0
project, we are achieving another important milestone towards deploying new
technologies on the path to sustainable mobility. Our research
infrastructure allows us to test megawatt-class systems, taking us a step
closer to achieving DLR’s vision.”

Florian Maier, President & CEO Diehl Aerospace GmbH: „Our contribution to
the BALIS 2.0 project underlines the important role of the equipment
industry in the development of innovative and eco-efficient aircraft
systems and propulsion technologies. We are proud to be able to support
such an important research project for a more sustainable aviation with our
experience and technology.”

DLR’s BALIS test field in Empfingen, Germany was built as part of the
previous BALIS project and will go into operation in 2024. Initial ground
tests of the 350 kW fuel cell system are planned for 2025.

About H2FLY

H2FLY was founded by five engineers from the German Aerospace Center in
Stuttgart and the University of Ulm, H2FLY GmbH is working to deliver to
market the first qualified, fully hydrogen-electric aircraft powertrain. By
bringing hydrogen fuel cell technology to the next level, H2FLY plans to
unlock the era of emission-free, sustainable air travel. The company
develops hydrogen-electric propulsion systems for aircraft and is a global
leader in the development and testing of such systems. The HY4, designed to
be the world’s first hydrogen-electric passenger aircraft, first took off
in 2016, demonstrating both the feasibility and potential of this
technology for the aviation of the future. H2FLY has a powerful network of
partners in industry and science and is currently working to accelerate its
technology development and commercialization with the support of German and
European partnerships. In just a few years, hydrogen-electric aircraft are
expected to be able to transport 40 passengers over distances of up to
2,000 kilometres (1,240 miles).

H2FLY was acquired in 2021 by Joby Aviation, a California-based company
developing electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for
commercial passenger service.

For more information, please visit: www.h2fly.de



About DLR

The DLR at a glance

DLR is the research centre of the Federal Republic of Germany for
aeronautics and space. It conducts research and development in the fields
of aviation, space, energy, transportation, security, and digitalisation.
The German Space Agency at DLR is responsible, on behalf of the federal
government, for the planning and implementation of German space activities.
Two DLR project management agencies oversee funding programs and support
knowledge transfer.

Globally, climate, mobility, and technology are changing. DLR leverages the
expertise of its 54 institutes and facilities to develop solutions for the
resulting challenges. Its 10,000 employees share a common mission: they
explore Earth and space and develop technologies for a sustainable future.
Through technology transfer, they contribute to strengthening Germany’s
scientific and business location.


About Diehl Aerospace

Diehl Aerospace GmbH, a joint venture of Diehl Aviation and Thales, is a
leading system supplier for aircraft systems and cabin solutions,
particularly for flight controls, avionics platforms, display systems,
cabin lighting, and cabin management systems. As a system supplier, Diehl
Aerospace is responsible for the control and regulation technology for the
novel hydrogen-based energy generation system in the BALIS 2.0 project.
This system ensures efficient interaction of all components essential for
the robust operation of the fuel cell-based propulsion system. The
centerpiece is a highly performant and highly available computing platform
that reliably and integrally controls safety-critical functions in
parallel, enabling efficient scaling of the fuel cell propulsion system.
Diehl Aerospace contributes its expertise in Integrated Modular Avionics
(IMA) to this endeavor.

Diehl Aerospace is deeply committed to eco-efficient aviation and
hydrogen-based energy generation systems. Currently, Diehl Aerospace
employs more than 1,000 employees. Its customers include leading aircraft
manufacturers such as Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Embraer, military
partners, eVTOL and helicopter manufacturers, as well as airlines and
operators of commercial and business aircraft worldwide.


Press contact

H2FLY GmbH

Rachel Byrne, R. Agency

H2FLY@ragency.com


--



LIBERTY ADAM (she/her)

m. +44 7880663806

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