Universal Hydrogen

Company Overview

Universal Hydrogen is dedicated to making hydrogen aviation a near-term reality. The company is building a hydrogen ecosystem for aviation through strategic partnerships and new technologies for hydrogen distribution and propulsion.

Universal Hydrogen's Impact

They address aviation’s existential challenge – reducing carbon emissions while keeping flying affordable.

The mission of Universal Hydrogen is to decarbonise aviation and put the industry on a trajectory to meet Paris Agreement obligations.

Universal Hydrogen's Core Mission and Values

Carbon-free:

Hydrogen is a true zero-carbon fuel. It is made from water and its only emission is water.

Affordable:

Hydrogen will be at cost parity with jet fuel starting in 2025, with costs decreasing exponentially.

Safe:

Hydrogen is significantly safer than jet fuel. It has a great safety record in hydrogen-powered vehicles.

Current Investors

American airlines, Tencent, Waltzing Matilda Aviation, Jetblue, Toyota, Airbus, General Electric.

Convoy's Use of Funds Raised

The funds and investments can be used for research and also flight testing. Flight testing ensures that flights are safe and run smoothly. The additional capital will support Universal Hydrogen’s work on a 2 MW fuel cell powertrain that it plans to retrofit in aircraft such as the ATR 42, along with preloaded hydrogen fuel capsules.

Risks associated with hyrogen aviation

The problem with hydrogen is its volume. For transport, it has to be stored in heavy tanks either as a compressed high-pressure gas or a cryogenic liquid. Universal Hydrogen is using compressed hydrogen gas, since it is already approved for road transport. Its test aeroplane had two hydrogen fuel cells and tanks sitting inside the cabin, but the team is now thinking creatively about a compact system with minimal changes to aircraft design. The fuel cells’ added weight could reduce flying range, but “that’s not a problem, because aircraft are designed to fly much further than they’re used,” says the CEO.

How are Universal Hydrogen driving innovation?

Our first product is a conversion kit for existing regional aircraft, starting with the ATR72 and the De Havilland Canada Dash-8, to fly on hydrogen. This consists of a fuel cell electric powertrain that replaces the existing turboprop engines. By providing both an aircraft conversion solution for the existing fleet and a fuel services offering directly to regional airlines, we will be in passenger service with zero emissions by 2025 and in cargo service shortly thereafter.