Hydroplane Fuel Cell Powerplant for Mobile Energy Generation, Storage, and Electric Propulsion

Hydroplane Ltd. is developing a modular, compact, and scalable hydrogen (H2) fuel cell power plant (HFC-PP) for mobile energy storage tailored to heavy-duty transport use cases (aviation, maritime, trucks), ground power, and on-board auxiliary power. With our novel fuel cell stack we have improved on specific energy (kW/kg), specific volume (kW/L), sustained peak power (kW), and durability (TBO), over state-of-the-art automotive fuel cell integration. This has been demonstrated in our Phase 2 Air Force Agility Prime STTR in a single engine aircraft and with custom MEA ground tests at 100-kW. We embrace the synergy of commercial application of H2 fuel cells, stimulated and de-risked by investment from the Department of Defense to address contested logistics and federal sustainment goals.ááWe propose to develop a 300-500 kW emission free, compact, mobile, hydrogen fuel cell powerplant (HFC-PP) to decarbonize and electrify US Army aircraft, vehicles, and power systems, thus reducing reliance on foreign oil and Lithium batteries. We will increase our HFC-PP electric propulsion system from 100kW to 500 kW, to create a modular propulsion power-plant for helicopters, UAVs, and ground power. In the Phase 1 we will create a modular scalable HFC-PP architecture for UAVs and rotorcraft, with a subscale rotor test stand proof of concept (POC) demonstration. In the Phase 2, we will integrate a prototype powerplant as primary propulsion in an Enstrom 480B helicopter to demonstrate that our HFC-PP can rapidly electrify a range of Army aircraft and vehicles.á