Intelligent Energy Lands £17 Million to Fuel the Future of Zero-Emission Aviation

Loughborough-based hydrogen pioneer Intelligent Energy (IE) has secured £17 million in government-backed funding to accelerate the development of its next-generation fuel cell system for aircraft. The project, known as IE-FLIGHT, is part of a three-year programme aimed at delivering a fully integrated, zero-emission hydrogen power solution that could transform commercial aviation by the 2030s.

Supported through the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Programme, a partnership between the ATI, the Department for Business and Trade, and Innovate UK, the funding will power Project HEIGHTS. This ambitious initiative will develop IE’s current 300-kilowatt modular aviation fuel cell system for use in new categories of aircraft.

The first use cases are already in sight. IE-FLIGHT 300 is expected to enter service before the end of the decade in Electric Vertical Take-off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, as well as in smaller commuter planes. Looking ahead, the system is expected to scale up to support larger regional aircraft by the 2030s.

But there’s a technical hurdle: how to keep fuel cells operating at optimal temperatures without bulky and drag-inducing cooling systems. That’s a challenge IE intends to solve through its unique water-injection cooling technology. Unlike traditional liquid-based systems, IE’s approach uses air-cooled condensers with a smaller surface area, reducing both weight and drag. Project HEIGHTS will refine this method even further, pushing the boundaries of thermal efficiency in aviation.

This move comes at a time when aviation is under intense pressure to decarbonise. Batteries still fall short when it comes to range and payload, especially for anything beyond small aircraft. Hydrogen fuel cells, by contrast, offer a promising middle ground, cleaner than combustion and more practical than battery-electric over long distances.

IE believes the potential impact is enormous. If adopted widely across eVTOL, sub-regional, and regional aircraft segments, as well as for auxiliary power units on larger planes, fuel cell systems could help cut carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 25.6 million tonnes per year. On top of that, scaling up production and deployment could generate up to 1,600 new jobs in the UK alone.

The HEIGHTS project, short for Hydrogen Efficient Fuel Cell Integrated in a High-Temperature System, builds on IE’s track record in the field. The company previously participated in the H2GEAR programme, led by GKN Aerospace, and it powered the world’s first human-crewed fuel cell flight alongside Boeing in 2008.

To bring HEIGHTS to life, IE is collaborating with several key partners, including the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, Coventry University, and the Manufacturing Technology Centre. The company is also expanding its physical footprint, with the opening of a new £7.1 million fuel cell test and validation centre in Northamptonshire later this year.

This isn’t just a milestone for IE, it’s a significant moment for the UK’s clean aviation ambitions. Earlier this year, Intelligent Energy was named a strategic partner in the Civil Aviation Authority’s Hydrogen Challenge, further cementing its leadership role in the push for net-zero flight.

About Intelligent Energy

Founded in 2001, Intelligent Energy develops and manufactures hydrogen fuel cell systems designed to outperform conventional battery technologies. With more than 600 patents to its name, the company serves a diverse range of industries, including automotive, aerospace, telecommunications, power generation, and uncrewed aerial vehicles. Headquartered in Loughborough, IE operates globally, with activities across the UK, the United States, China, South Korea, and Japan.