H2ELIOS Project: Entering Its Final Year with Strong Technical Momentum and Human-Driven Innovation

As H2ELIOS enters the final year of its mission to enable liquid hydrogen-powered aviation, the project continues to make strides across technical, scientific, and collaborative dimensions. 

Major Project Milestones

In May 2025, the 5th Steering Committee and 13th Technical Committee meetings were held in Ajdovščina, Slovenia, hosted by Pipistrel Aircraft. These meetings provided an essential forum to assess progress, refine the project's roadmap, and enhance coordination among partners.

Additionally, the 3rd Review Meeting took place in March 2025 at Aciturri’s premises in Sevilla, Spain. Representatives from Clean Aviation and the European Commission reviewed the project’s advancements and aligned with the consortium on the next steps.

Research at the Forefront

The H2ELIOS consortium continues to deliver cutting-edge scientific output. A new publication in Aerospace MDPI by Giacomo Dreossi and Andrej Bernard Horvat (Pipistrel Aircraft) explores CFRP permeation under cryogenic conditions, an important step toward certifiable LH₂ tank designs. In parallel, a team from CTTC-UPC published a paper in Engineering Proceedings on a Thermal Digital Twin framework that models the behavior of LH₂ tanks—supporting optimization of performance and safety under real-world conditions.

At the international level, H2ELIOS was also represented at JEC World 2025 in Paris by Sotirios Grammatikos (NTNU), where the project’s composite material solutions for LH₂ storage attracted interest from global industry stakeholders.

Spotlighting the People Behind the Progress

H2ELIOS is not only a story of technical innovation but also of the talented individuals driving it forward. The ongoing Team Spotlights series brings attention to members from across the consortium:

• Alexey Shaporin (Fraunhofer ENAS) leads the development of intelligent “black box” monitoring systems for LH₂ tanks, paving the way for robust digital twin models.
• Alfonso Carpio Rovira (Applus+ Laboratories) is pioneering cryogenic validation methods—including a novel LN₂-based testing technique currently under patent.
• Andreas Strohmer (TEST-FUCHS), Head of Innovation, provides system-level leadership in the integration of lightweight, cryogenic electronics for future aircraft.

These spotlights offer a window into the interdisciplinary collaboration, ambition, and personal investment that fuel the H2ELIOS journey.

Looking Ahead

As H2ELIOS moves into its third and final year, the consortium remains focused on advancing LH₂ storage systems that are safe, efficient, and certifiable for future aircraft applications. Through peer-reviewed publications, international conference participation, and strategic reviews, the project continues to build momentum—both technically and in terms of public engagement.

Stay tuned as H2ELIOS delivers its final innovations and supports the broader transition toward climate-neutral aviation.

Learn more at h2elios.eu.
 

The project is supported by the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking and its members.​

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking. Neither the European Union nor Clean Aviation JU can be held responsible for them.