The World's First Hydrogen-Powered Helicopter Could Soon Land on a Helipad Near You

The zero-emissions helicopters could be in the air by 2025.

Hydrogen is being proposed as an emissions-free fuel that could help clean up aviation’s reputation as a major carbon emitter. But many aviation pundits see hydrogen as a pipe dream that is at least 15 or 20 years from reality.

Two companies recently announced a partnership to develop an electric helicopter that would make its first flight in 2023. Piasecki Aircraft Corp. said it plans to develop the Piasecki eVTOL PA-890 using HyPoint’s hydrogen fuel-cell system.

“Initial lab testing funded by Piasecki last winter demonstrated the technical viability of HyPoint’s hydrogen fuel-cell system,” said CEO John Piasecki, noting it would be the first manned hydrogen-powered helicopter. “Success will pave the way for collaboration with other eVTOL OEMs with different platform sizes to ensure broad applications of this technology.”

HyPoint says its compact hydrogen fuel cell has four times the energy density of lithium-ion batteries and twice the power of existing hydrogen fuel-cell systems.  Courtesy HyPoint

Hydrogen-powered aircraft have been limited to a few experimental designs, including ZeroAvia, which became the first company to successfully complete a hydrogen-electric passenger flight on a modified Piper M-Class aircraft. A number of aircraft designers, including Alaka’i Technologies, Bartini, Gigajoule Jug Consulting, Urban Aeronautics and Happy Takeoff, also see hydrogen power as being critical for the eVTOL segment.

California-based HyPoint, which also signed a development agreement with ZeroAvia, says its fuel-cell system is better than existing lithium-battery and other hydrogen fuel cell systems on the market. The system, according to HyPoint, has four times the energy density of existing lithium-ion batteries and twice the specific power of existing hydrogen fuel-cell systems. It also claims that operating costs on turbine-powered rotorcraft—i.e., conventional helicopters—will be up to 50 percent lower.

“The much-anticipated arrival of eVTOLs, and similar aircraft, has been severely hindered by the technical limitations of existing power systems,” said Dr. Alex Ivanenko, founder and CEO of HyPoint. “This new strategic partnership will dramatically accelerate delivery timelines by equipping eVTOL manufacturers with next-generation hydrogen fuel cell systems that meet their unique needs.”

HyPoint uses compressed air for cooling and oxygen supply for its fuel-cell system. Ivanenko said it can achieve up to 2,000 watts per kilogram of specific power, which is three times the power-to-weight ratio of traditional, liquid-cooled hydrogen fuel-cell systems. It also has up to 1,500 watt-hours per kilogram of energy density for long ranges.

Under this background, The 37th China Helicopter Academic Exchange Conference & The 5th Annual Civil Helicopter Industry International Forum will be held in October, 2021 in Nanjing, China. The forum was advised by Chinese Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics, hosted by Chinese Helicopter Society and Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, supported by Shanghai General Aviation Association, organized by Nanjing Research Institute on Simulation Technique, China Helicopter Design and Research Institute, AVIC Changhe Aircraft Industry (Group) Corporation Ltd and Galleon (Shanghai) Consulting Co., Ltd. The forum will mainly focus on Policy Interpretation, Industry Data Sharing, Helicopter Design and R&D, New Technolgy Application, General Aviation Operation, UAV Development, Helicopter MRO and Talents Cultivating.

Register your interest or get in touch with Lucy for more details.