FutureFlight
Plug Power and Universal Hydrogen Step Up Plans to Convert Airliners to Green Fuel
The partners aim to be ready to start flight testing a regional airliner modified for hydrogen propulsion by 2023
Universal Hydrogen
Universal Hydrogen and Plug Power are developing plans to convert regional airliners to hydrogen power, by installing fuel cell powertrains and a special compartment for hydrogen capsules. (Image: Universal Hydrogen)

Plug Power has become a minority shareholder in Universal Hydrogen, expanding its partnership with the start-up to provide hydrogen propulsion for aircraft. The initial $1 million investment, with an option to increase that amount, should allow Universal Hydrogen to meet its goal of completing the construction of a subscale hydrogen powertrain during the second quarter of this year.

In September 2020, the companies announced a partnership to develop hydrogen fuel-cell propulsion systems to power converted regional airliners. The U.S. companies intend to build and test a full-scale ground-based prototype for a two-megawatt hydrogen-electric powertrain that they intend to have ready for retrofitting under a supplemental type certificate (STC) by 2024.