On 29 and 30 September, TRIATHLON partners participated in the Hydrogen Aviation Summit in Pfeffenhausen, Germany, an event that brought together industry representatives, researchers, policymakers, and technology developers to discuss the future of hydrogen-powered aviation.
Held under the patronage of the Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs and co-hosted by TRIATHLON partner Cryomotive, the summit highlighted the rapid progress being made across the hydrogen mobility sector. The event provided a valuable platform for knowledge exchange, showcasing emerging technologies, and discussing the challenges that must be addressed to accelerate the adoption of hydrogen as an aviation fuel.
One of the major announcements during the summit was the launch of the Hydrogen Vehicle and Aviation Powertrain Centre Pfeffenhausen (WFLAP) innovation cluster. The initiative aims to strengthen the region’s position as a centre for hydrogen mobility research and development, supporting collaboration between industry, research organisations, and public stakeholders.
TRIATHLON research was showcased through two technical presentations delivered in the Energy Hall. Christoph Ebert from TU Dresden presented work carried out within the project on permeability measurements and material conductivity experiments under deep cryogenic conditions. These activities contribute to a better understanding of materials behaviour in hydrogen-related applications.
Julien van Campen from TU Delft shared the latest results on hydrogen storage, transport, and conditioning. The findings indicate that liquid hydrogen may not be the only viable solution for hydrogen-powered flight. This highlights the importance of exploring a broader range of approaches and technologies to support the aviation sector’s transition towards sustainable energy carriers.
The presentations took place in a facility that will soon host a second electrolyser for the production of green hydrogen, underlining Pfeffenhausen’s growing role in hydrogen innovation. In addition, Michael Stodt from Cryomotive presented ongoing efforts related to the standardisation of hydrogen technologies, an essential aspect for the widespread deployment of hydrogen solutions across different sectors.
By bringing together expertise from across the hydrogen ecosystem, the Hydrogen Aviation Summit offered a valuable opportunity to discuss the innovations, partnerships, and supporting infrastructure needed to enable hydrogen-powered aviation. TRIATHLON’s participation helped showcase the project’s latest achievements while contributing to the broader conversation on sustainable aviation and the future of hydrogen mobility.
