Impact of Technology Maturation on Advanced Hydrogen Fuel Cell Aircraft

Hydrogen fuel cells are a promising power source for commercial aircraft, emitting only water vapor in flight. However, advances in fuel cell stack technology and supporting systems are required before large-scale integration into aircraft is feasible. This study evaluates how the maturation of key technologies influences aircraft performance metrics, including weight, range, and energy efficiency. Parameterized models are constructed for fuel cell stacks, air and thermal management systems, propulsive components, and aircraft aerodynamics. Performance projections for hydrogen-powered integrated propulsion systems (IPS) are quantified for 2020, 2035, and 2050 technology levels using parameters compiled from previous studies. Further analysis investigates retrofitting four conventional aircraft with IPS power plants. While IPS power plants remain heavier than turbofans even at the 2050 technology level, their enhanced energy efficiency enables aircraft-level energy intensity reduction, with narrow-body aircraft demonstrating substantial improvements by 2035. Hydrogen volume constrains the range of short-range aircraft at the 2020 technology level and limits long-range aircraft at all technology levels. Enablers of energy-efficient hydrogen flight include an IPS specific power above [Formula: see text] and a 0.7 hydrogen fuel tank gravimetric efficiency. By 2050, all aircraft variants demonstrate marked reductions in energy intensity, underscoring the long-term sustainability potential of hydrogen fuel cell aircraft.