UK greenlights hydrogen demonstrations with focus on aviation-related projects
Five hydrogen technology demonstration projects have been selected for support under the Hydrogen Innovation Initiative (HII) Demonstration Programme, aiming to accelerate real-world testing and adoption of low-carbon hydrogen solutions across transport, energy and industrial sectors.
image: Connected Places Catapult
The programme, supported by Innovate UK with Connected Places Catapult acting as a dissemination partner, will help innovators demonstrate technologies in live environments and share insights to reduce technical risk and attract future investment.
Among the five selected projects, two have direct relevance to aviation and aircraft technologies:
Sky-Drones is demonstrating hydrogen generation, storage and fuel-cell propulsion for unmanned aerial systems (UAS). The project will test how hydrogen can extend flight endurance for long-range and remote missions, using off-grid hydrogen production and onboard fuel cells.
Ultima Forma is advancing lightweight liquid hydrogen pipework for aircraft. The efforts aim to validate flexible, vacuum-insulated piping suitable for cryogenic hydrogen systems, which could reduce weight and improve efficiency in future hydrogen-powered aircraft designs.
Two further transport-applicable hydrogen projects will also receive backing:
Vanguard Sustainable Transport Solutions will showcase HydroShunter, the UK’s first hydrogen-powered railway shunter using a combination of a hydrogen fuel cell and battery traction system, illustrating how zero-emission rail freight operations could work in demanding duty cycles.
Latent Drive’s SeaStack, will test electrolysis technologies designed for offshore and marine hydrogen production, producing hydrogen directly from seawater and exploring corrosion-resistant materials for use in harsh environments.
The fifth project H2CHP is demonstrating a modular hydrogen-to-electricity combined heat and power generator behind the meter (ie generated and used by the customer) at a microgrid in East London, using hydrogen produced off-grid.
Connected Places Catapult said the demonstrations are intended to provide practical performance data, help integrate systems in real operating contexts and build confidence among industry, policymakers and investors. By sharing results publicly, the initiative hopes to de-risk technologies and strengthen the UK’s position in global hydrogen innovation.