Dutch Students Achieve Hydrogen Breakthrough in Aviation
Delft, Friday, 9 May 2025.
AeroDelft, a student team from TU Delft, has accomplished a groundbreaking test of liquid hydrogen propulsion, marking a pivotal advancement in sustainable aviation technology.
Historic Achievement in Sustainable Aviation
On May 7, 2025, AeroDelft successfully conducted their groundbreaking test at TNO’s liquid hydrogen test facility in Ypenburg, The Netherlands [1]. The student-led team, comprising over 60 members, demonstrated a 75-kilowatt power output from their liquid hydrogen propulsion system, sufficient to power a small four-seat electric aircraft [2]. This achievement positions AeroDelft as the first student team globally to design, build, and test an electric propulsion system using liquid hydrogen as an energy source [3].
Technical Significance
The breakthrough leverages liquid hydrogen’s superior energy density, which is 2.8 times greater than its gaseous form, enabling longer flight durations without excessive weight penalties [2]. The development carries particular significance for the aviation sector, which currently contributes approximately 2.5% of global CO₂ emissions [2]. Chief of Liquid Hydrogen Propulsion, Davide Mangini, emphasized the milestone’s importance, stating: ‘Seeing the propeller spin, powered by a liquid hydrogen system we have worked on for years, was one of the most impressive moments of my life’ [3].
Future Implementation Plans
AeroDelft’s roadmap includes ambitious near-term goals, with plans for their first manned flight using gaseous hydrogen later in 2025, followed by a liquid hydrogen-powered flight in 2026 [2]. The project, which began in 2018, has already achieved significant milestones, including successful tests with gaseous hydrogen [3]. Team Manager Wadeke Tieleman highlights the broader impact: ‘This test shows what is possible when students fully commit to a mission they believe in. They are now among the most experienced students in the world in working with hydrogen’ [3].