The ambition of the project is to achieve an overall propulsion system efficiency of 50% by 2026, calculated as a ratio of energy on the propeller shaft to the hydrogen lower heating value.
By the end of 2025, the project will demonstrate widely scalable fuel cell power source technology with a power density of >1.2 kW/kg and stack power density of >5 kW/kg. Technologies will be adaptable to different maximum flight altitudes of ≤ FL250 and ≤FL450, and scalable down to ~250kW and reusable for secondary power in SMR flying altitudes by 2026. An innovative cryogenic tank concept will be integrated, demonstrating a gravimetric index of 35% for the CS-23 aircraft and scalable up to 50% for regional aircraft. The project will also address high power density high voltage energy conversion, propulsion systems, and the next generation microtube heat exchangers, along with an accurate digital twin of the overall system. All together, NEWBORN will develop a technology demonstrator prepared for flight demonstration in Clean Aviation Phase 2.
Scalable fuel cell propulsion system technology, scalable from ~250 kW to >3 MW.
Initially address CS-23 category Aircraft by 2030 to collect operational credibility, followed by solution ready for CS-25 Aircraft by 2035.
Aviation-grade fuel cell stack, high power density power electronics, non-traditional approach to humidity management, innovative high efficien heat exchangers, innovative conformal load-bearing cryotank, deep thermal integration of systems.