World’s first commercial hydrogen-powered aircraft is ‘Made-in-Holland’ and zero emission

The world’s first-ever larger passenger aircraft (40-80 seats) powered by liquid green hydrogen is to fly between the Netherlands and London in 2028. A unique feat: a major Dutch partnership is building a hydrogen system for aircraft, completely green, from fuel to propulsion. The system is scalable to larger aircraft. And it is entirely of Dutch origin. This will make the Netherlands the world’s leading supplier of hydrogen-powered aircraft. No more CO2 or nitrogen from the exhaust, so zero CO2 emission air travel. And this first flight will not be a one-day wonder: the intention is that from 2028 onwards, several commercial flights will take off worldwide. Hydrogen Aircraft Powertrain and Storage System (HAPSS) is an entirely Dutch public-private partnership, set up by Unified International and InnovationQuarter with 17 companies, including Fokker, TU Delft, the Dutch government and the Royal Dutch Aerospace Center. From the National Growth Fund, €383 million was allocated to the Aviation in Transition program, of which the HAPSS project is the largest component. The system will be ready at lab scale by 2025.

One-to-one contribution to Dutch GDP and the green economy

An international survey shows that more than 90% of consumers are willing to pay more for a flight, provided it is completely green. The HAPSS program achieves zero emission air travel and helps the Netherlands to become the leading supplier of such systems worldwide (tier-one position). The system will initially be built into an existing turboprop aircraft with 40-80 seats and can then be used in new zero-emission aircraft with even more passengers.

Read the Dutch media coverage by FD, AD, EenVandaag, BNR and Radio1 here.

1200 jobs and a global market of € 16 billion

“This is unique worldwide according to experts. And the best part: above this project flies a completely Dutch flag, so this project contributes directly and one-on-one to the Dutch GDP,” says Michel van Ierland of Unified International. As of 2028, HAPSS will provide 1,200 jobs. “We are providing structural employment in the green economy with this program. In addition, we are opening up a €16 billion world market for the Netherlands. This is very interesting for Scandinavia and New Zealand, for example, where for shorter distances people are still focusing on battery-electric technology.”

Van Ireland calls it “an absolutely unique project where the red-white-and-blue splashes from. We have had a strong aircraft manufacturing industry in the Netherlands for 100 years. And we are very good at working together, companies with knowledge institutions and government – the golden triangle. And if the parties connect their knowledge and skills with each other, you will soon have such a world first as in 2028. I am incredibly proud of that.”

How does it work?

The entire chain in an aircraft, from fuel to propulsion, will be fully and completely greened. 17 organizations and companies, including Fokker, TU Delft, Zepp Solutions and Saluqi, are working on various parts of the chain, under the direction of a newly established BV. Where fuel is currently stored in the wings, in the new aircraft these will be replaced by hydrogen capsules in the tail of the aircraft. The hydrogen is then transported to the engine and converted into electricity. In the engine, the electricity is converted into motion and sent to the propellers. “It sounds easier than it is; the piping, for example, is also a complex matter,” says Bert Klarus of InnovationQuarter. “If you want to transport hydrogen through pipes, you have to keep it well under control with pressure regulators and compressors. And there is also a lot of heat released, you have to do something with that too.”

InnovationQuarter, the regional development agency for South Holland, has been building the HAPSS program together with Technology Park Ypenburg and Unified International since 2020. “We have brought the partners of this consortium together, always with the explicit ambition to make this a Dutch solution,” said Bert Klarus.

Dutch and European aviation authorities have also been hooked up. “This system has to be certified, but we are very hopeful about that,” Van Ireland said. “We are building and tinkering with an existing, robust and proven system. We can benefit from that.”

The Netherlands finally takes the lead in aviation again

The Netherlands has 100 years of experience in aviation. But with the demise of Fokker as an Original Equiptment Manufacturer (OEM) in 1996, the demand for Dutch-made aircraft components came to an end. In the meantime, the ecosystem has only been used for aircraft platforms such as Airbus, Boeing, and Lockheed Martin (F35). This is now going to change. With the HAPSS project, the Netherlands is positioning itself worldwide as a supplier for airlines that need to start flying sustainably. Potential customers include Airbus, Boeing, Embraer and De Havilland.

Other countries are experimenting, but not competing

In America and the United Kingdom, experiments with hydrogen-powered flying are also taking place, but mainly by parties that have their origins in commercial, sustainable energy supply. “Those have a different focus. They are potential customers and partners for us, rather than competitors.” Parties like Airbus/Leonardo, Embraer are also working on hydrogen technology for their future aircraft. However, their horizon is a bit further away and is on the period after 2035.