Stralis Aircraft Advances Groundbreaking Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology

Australian clean-tech startup Stralis Aircraft is conducting tests on its innovative high-temperature fuel cell technology at a facility in Auckland, aiming to facilitate the first hydrogen-electric flights in Australasia. This testing initiative is supported by Air New Zealand, the NZ Product Accelerator hosted by the University of Auckland, and Hiringa Energy.

Stralis Aircraft is advancing the development of fuel cells designed to power high-performance, cost-efficient hydrogen-electric propulsion systems for aircraft and other heavy transport applications. Their exclusive high-temperature PEM fuel-cell technology is notably lighter than current alternatives, allowing aircraft to achieve ten times the range of battery-electric solutions at a cost lower than that of fossil-fuel-powered planes. The company is conducting tests of its fuel cells in the United States and has recently commenced testing in New Zealand.

The testing will yield data essential for Stralis to comprehend degradation mechanisms and rates, thereby supporting a credible lifetime assessment of the fuel cell system product. Attaining long-life HTPEM fuel cells is crucial for delivering engine maintenance cost savings to airline customers. This empirical data will quantify maintenance savings and promote the adoption of the technology.

Stralis's propulsion technology offers substantial advantages, including zero emissions (producing only water vapour), up to 50% reduction in operating costs, and decreased noise levels. Their system seamlessly integrates fuel cells, liquid hydrogen tanks, and electric motors into both existing and new aircraft designs. The company aims to achieve the inaugural flight of its six-seat Bonanza A36 technology demonstrator aircraft later this year in Queensland, Australia.

Stuart Johnstone, co-founder and CTO of Stralis Aircraft, says, "We are proud to be working with Air New Zealand to test our unique fuel cell technology in their engine test facility at Auckland Airport. New Zealand is an ideal location to develop, test and adopt emission-free aircraft technology, so it is a great place to build capability and understanding. The test cell is attractive because it has a lot of capacity to grow and enable testing of our higher power systems. It is great to be working with businesses in Australasia to make hydrogen-electric and zero-emission aviation a reality. With the help of our Kiwi partners, we have managed to get the test cell operational in “record” time."

Matthew Connolly, Air New Zealand’s Sustainability Lead Energy Transition, says, “Across Air New Zealand, we have a significant programme dedicated to preparing for the future of flight, and the energy transition is a critical part of this work. That’s where opening the engine test cell facility to innovative companies such as Stralis comes in, as another step in our collective learning about new technologies, future engine propulsion, and new ways that aircraft will fly people and goods in a lower-carbon future. We believe Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), hydrogen and electricity will all be critical parts of a future aviation eco-system, and we’re proud to be supporting the innovation that Stralis is testing here in New Zealand.”

Hydrogen-electric propulsion systems feature fewer moving components and function at lower temperatures than conventional aircraft engines, which is expected to decrease engine maintenance costs by 40-60%. This reduction is comparable to the cost savings observed between combustion engine vehicles and electric cars. In these systems, hydrogen stored in an onboard tank powers a fuel cell that produces electricity to drive an electric motor, which in turn propels a propeller. Hydrogen-electric propulsion systems can serve as replacements for aircraft batteries, retrofits for existing airframes, innovative clean sheet designs, or even as auxiliary power units (APUs) in larger aircraft.