{"id":45788,"date":"2024-03-27T12:28:54","date_gmt":"2024-03-27T12:28:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/?p=45788"},"modified":"2025-01-26T19:25:12","modified_gmt":"2025-01-26T19:25:12","slug":"cranfield-university-funded-69m-to-pioneer-net-zero-hydrogen-aviation-fuel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/cranfield-university-funded-69m-to-pioneer-net-zero-hydrogen-aviation-fuel\/45788\/","title":{"rendered":"Cranfield University funded \u00a369m to pioneer net zero hydrogen aviation fuel"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cranfield University will benefit from a \u00a369m funding injection to create the UK’s first major technology hub for sustainable hydrogen aviation fuel.<\/h2>\n

The funding will be employed to develop the Cranfield Hydrogen Integration Incubator\u00a0(CH2i), which will innovate world-leading technologies to demonstrate the potential of hydrogen aviation fuel, a landmark move that will help decarbonise the industry.<\/p>\n

Research England’s\u00a0Research Partnership Investment Fund (RPIF) will provide \u00a323m of the funding, with \u00a346m financed through industry partners and academic institutions.<\/p>\n

This latest investment brings the total funding from the RPIF scheme to \u00a31bn, with Cranfield being one of four universities that received funding this round.<\/p>\n

Embracing hydrogen: A path to sustainable aviation<\/h3>\n

The demand for air travel is rising, with projections suggesting that UK passenger traffic could surge from 284 million in 2016 to 435 million by 2050<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Without intervention, aviation is poised to become the primary contributor to carbon greenhouse gas emissions by mid-century.<\/p>\n

In this context, the swift advancement and expansion of hydrogen-powered aviation are crucial steps toward meeting escalating demands while transitioning to cleaner air transportation.<\/p>\n

Aligned with the UK government’s Jet Zero Strategy<\/a>, which aims for domestic aviation to achieve net zero emissions by 2040, CH2i will aid the aviation sector in exploring the scaling-up of hydrogen aviation fuel.<\/p>\n

Professor Karen Holford CBE FREng, Chief Executive and Vice-Chancellor of Cranfield University, explained: “This game-changing investment builds on Cranfield’s expertise in hydrogen research and will help the aviation industry to make the leap to using hydrogen.<\/p>\n

“CH2i will integrate with other large industry research areas at Cranfield, including our novel hydrogen production programmes, our Aerospace Integration Research Centre, and the Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre.<\/p>\n

“Working with research and industry partners nationally and internationally, we will unlock some of the most significant technical challenges around the future development and deployment of hydrogen in aviation.<\/p>\n

“It’s a very exciting prospect for our researchers, partners and for the aviation industry. It will help to build the pathway to net zero emissions aviation.”<\/p>\n

How CH2i will advance hydrogen aviation fuel infrastructure<\/h3>\n

CH2i will establish a groundbreaking ecosystem at Cranfield aimed at seamlessly connecting the production, integration, and utilisation of hydrogen for achieving net zero aviation.<\/p>\n

This initiative not only showcases the industry’s potential for rapid decarbonisation but also lays the foundation for pioneering advancements in hydrogen-based technologies.<\/p>\n

By forging a strategic research collaboration, CH2i will be intricately linked with the newly established Centre for Doctoral Training in Net Zero Aviation at Cranfield.<\/p>\n

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\u00a9 shutterstock\/Audio und werbung<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This collaborative environment will serve as a catalyst for the development of crucial technologies, ranging from production techniques to aircraft designs and engines, vital for expediting the adoption of hydrogen aviation fuel.<\/p>\n

The initiative will prioritise the establishment of state-of-the-art laboratories, extensive test facilities, and essential airport infrastructure, thus revolutionising the landscape of hydrogen technologies.<\/p>\n

Informing policy and regulation<\/h3>\n

CH2i’s multidisciplinary approach brings together academia, industry stakeholders, governmental bodies, and regulatory authorities.<\/p>\n

Through collaborative efforts, CH2i aims to inform and shape policies, services, and regulatory frameworks necessary to realise economic growth and skill development opportunities on regional, national, and international scales.<\/p>\n

Investment across the supply chain<\/h3>\n

Benefitting from Cranfield’s unique position as the sole university in Europe with its own airport and dedicated aviation facilities, CH2i will leverage its controlled airside environment to conduct large-scale demonstrations, testing, and advancement of hydrogen-based technologies.<\/p>\n

The initiative will integrate and expand existing facilities at Cranfield, facilitating research and development across the entire hydrogen supply chain, encompassing production, storage, transportation, and utilisation.<\/p>\n

Key infrastructure elements<\/h3>\n

CH2i will boast three infrastructure elements that will be critical to the project’s success:<\/p>\n