A consortium of industry leaders, including Turbotech, Safran, and Air Liquide, has achieved a significant milestone in aviation innovation by successfully ground-testing a liquid hydrogen-fueled gas turbine engine for light aircraft. This breakthrough is part of the BeautHyFuel project, which builds on earlier tests using gaseous hydrogen as a fuel source.
The project, led by Turbotech, a regenerative turbine and propulsion systems manufacturer, and Elixir Aircraft, a light aircraft manufacturer, aims to develop hydrogen propulsion solutions for light aircraft. The initiative also explores methods for retrofitting existing aircraft with hydrogen technology. Key partners include Safran, Air Liquide, and Daher, with support from France’s Director General for Civil Aviation (DGAC).
The latest test follows a successful demonstration in January 2024, where gaseous hydrogen was used to characterize the engine’s performance. This time, the engine was integrated with a cryogenic liquid hydrogen storage system developed by Air Liquide. The system replicated all functions of a complete aircraft, showcasing the feasibility of a fully integrated hydrogen propulsion system.
Pierre-Alain Lambert, Safran’s VP of Hydrogen Systems, highlighted the significance of the achievement, stating, “This second stage marks the successful culmination of the project. We have demonstrated that a complete high-tech propulsion system with zero carbon emissions in flight is possible and can be directly integrated into light aircraft.”
The tests were conducted at Air Liquide’s Grenoble Technologies Campus in southeast France. Xavier Traversac, VP of Air Liquide Advanced Technologies, emphasized the importance of collaboration, noting, “The close cooperation between industry players has been key to this success.”
Damien Fauvet, CEO of Turbotech, praised the rapid progress of the project, which began in 2022. “The project has been a complete and rapid success, thanks to a remarkable team effort by the aerospace majors and SMEs involved,” he said.
The BeautHyFuel project represents a major step toward sustainable aviation, offering a potential pathway for reducing carbon emissions in the light aircraft sector. With further development, hydrogen-powered propulsion systems could revolutionize the industry, paving the way for cleaner and more efficient air travel.
