On November 24, 2025, Jörg Tappermann from Airbus presented the progress from the BRAVA project at the EU Hydrogen Research & Innovation Days. The project is developing powerful hydrogen fuel cell systems to help make zero-emission flying a reality for the Airbus ZEROe program. Presenting to an audience of industry leaders, the session highlighted how the consortium is successfully tackling the biggest technical challenges in sustainable aviation. Following the presentation also a panel discussion was done underwent on the mobility aspect of hydrogen usage proving that the usage and attractivity still exists in areas like aviation, maritime and heavy duty applications.
One major hurdle in flying with fuel cells is the heavy cooling equipment required. The BRAVA team has solved this by creating the world’s firstan aeronautic feasible “two-phase” cooling system, which sheds up to 58% of the equipment weight and uses 88% less pump energy. To complement this, the project manufactured 3D-printed aluminum heat exchangers that are not only 24% lighter but also cut aerodynamic drag by 40%.
Inside the fuel cell itself, the team developed a highly durable, eco-friendly membrane designed to safely last for over 210,000 flight hours. To feed air into these advanced cells, partner Liebherr built an incredibly powerful and lightweight aviation air compressor capable of supporting a massive 2.4-megawatt fuel cell system.
By bringing these smart, lightweight components together, the BRAVA team was able to significantly simplify the overall engine design. The resulting power generation system is 30% lighter than originally required while packing more power. These major milestones prove that the BRAVA project is successfully delivering the essential technologies needed for the next generation of clean, hydrogen-powered airplanes.
