FutureFlight
GKN Aerospace Launches H2Jet Hydrogen Fuel Cell Project In Sweden
The aircraft systems and components group is leading a two-year research and development program involving multiple Swedish partners to find new ways to generate electrical power for aircraft from hydrogen fuel cells.
GKN H2GEAR
GKN is already involved in the H2Gear hydrogen propulsion program, but is now exploring direct combustion of hydrogen in turbofan and turboprop engines through the new Sweden-based H2Jet project. (Image: GKN Aerospace)

GKN Aerospace has begun leading a Swedish collaboration program to develop technical solutions for three important engine subsystems for hydrogen propulsion of medium-range civil aircraft. The $2.8 million H2Jet project was announced on July 14 and involves the aircraft systems and components manufacturing group working with the Swedish Energy Agency, Chalmers University of Technology, Lund University, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, University West, Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE), and Oxeon.

Hydrogen systems can generate power by either direct combustion—the focus of the H2Jet work—or by generating onboard electrical power by use of a fuel cell. The latter approach is already the focus of GKN Aerospace’s ‘H2Gear’ program, which the Europe-based group launched earlier this year.