Intelligent Energy, UK aviation regulators partner to advance hydrogen-powered flight
LOUGHBOROUGH, U.K. - Hydrogen fuel cell company Intelligent Energy (IE) has partnered with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to advance the safe introduction of hydrogen-powered passenger aircraft.
The collaboration is part of the second phase of the UK Hydrogen Challenge, a government-backed initiative to prepare the aerospace industry for the transition to hydrogen as a zero-carbon aviation fuel.
IE, based in Loughborough, U.K, first demonstrated manned fuel cell-powered flight in 2008 in partnership with Boeing. Its latest development, the 300-kilowatt IE-FLIGHT 300 (F300), is designed to power 19-seat Part 23 aircraft and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles, with first deliveries expected in 2027.
Related: Airbus highlights hydrogen future for commercial air travel
Standards
As part of the CAA initiative, IE will work to develop safety and certification standards for fuel cell-based propulsion systems, ensuring regulatory compliance and accelerating their integration into commercial aviation.
“The UK is on track to lead the world in hydrogen fuel systems, but achieving zero-emission aviation requires more than just technological breakthroughs – it demands close collaboration between innovators and regulators,” said Jonathan Douglas-Smith, head of business development for IE-FLIGHT at Intelligent Energy.
Douglas-Smith said the long-term nature of the project underscores its importance in refining hydrogen fuel cell systems for aviation safety standards and expediting their certification.
The UK Hydrogen Challenge, launched in 2024, will run trials for three years as the country seeks to position itself as a leader in hydrogen-powered flight.
