exFan Project Update: Advancing Europe’s Zero-Emission Aviation Ambitions

At the 24-month stage, exFan has reached key technical milestones across propulsion architecture, thermal integration, and materials development. The project combines system-level modelling with component design and validation to enable efficient hydrogen fuel-cell electric propulsion with integrated heat recovery. 

Key mid-term achievements include: 

• Mechanical powertrain definition aligned with aircraft-level performance targets (shaft power, efficiency, mass and power density) 
• Integrated fuel cell–battery energy system designed to minimise losses through optimised power split and regeneration strategies 
• Heat propulsor concept development, including fan, diffuser, heat exchanger, and nozzle investigations supported by 1-D simulations 
• Advanced surface engineering, with NiP-coated additively manufactured heat exchanger components showing reduced roughness, improved corrosion resistance, and enhanced heat rejection performance. 

The exFan project continues to demonstrate how coordinated, system-level innovation supports Europe’s leadership in climate-neutral aerospace technologies. 

Public Deliverables Now Available

Short public summaries of key exFan deliverables are now accessible on the project website. The deliverables span strategic project management and communication plans, detailed technical analyses, and system design reports that underpin the development of a hydrogen fuel-cell electric aircraft propulsion system. They cover administrative frameworks, dissemination and exploitation strategies, propulsion system boundary conditions and requirements, conceptual and component design (including the heat propulsor and heat exchangers), and experimental validation activities that together enable integrated thermal management and waste heat recovery in advanced aircraft propulsion.

These summaries provide insights into how exFan explores heat recovery as a performance-enhancing opportunity within integrated propulsion systems.

The deliverable summaries are available HERE. 

General Assembly (M24) – Cologne

On 10–11 December 2025, the exFan consortium met in Cologne for its Month 24 General Assembly, hosted by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) at the DLR Institute of Propulsion Technology.

Partners reviewed progress across propulsion layout, thermal management, aerodynamics, materials, verification, and dissemination. A key focus was system integration, ensuring that subsystem innovations translate into overall aircraft performance and operational feasibility. The meeting reinforced collaboration and aligned the next technical steps toward hydrogen-electric propulsion.

Knowledge Transfer & Education

On 12 January 2026, exFan was presented as an industrial case study in the course “Renewable Energy Systems and System Simulation” at the Konstanz University of Applied Sciences.
The session, delivered by Philipp Jordan (PiD), demonstrated how OpenModelica-based system simulation supports advanced propulsion development. Discussions with students and Prof. Dr. Peter Stein highlighted the growing importance of digital modeling in engineering decision-making.

Save the Date

The Vienna Aviation Days 2026 will take place on 23–24 June 2026 in Vienna, ahead of the next exFan General Assembly. Under the theme “Sustainable Aviation Technologies in a Changing World”, the event will connect academia, industry, and policymakers to accelerate green aviation innovation.

In 2026, the Vienna Aviation Days will feature deeper international involvement and discussions, exhibitions of state-of-the-art and presentations of future aviation technologies, and showcase how green aviation technologies fit into the European future, as the world is experiencing drastic changes.

Two dynamic editions have already taken flight—Vienna Aviation Days 2024 and Vienna Aviation Days 2025—each bringing together industry leaders, innovators, and visionaries to shape the future of aviation.

Follow our progress

The exFan project is advancing hydrogen-electric propulsion with a focus on practical industrial applications. Stay informed on our developments and key milestones by visiting our website and following us on LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.

Join us in shaping the future of aviation through research-driven innovation.

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