Cranfield Hydrogen Integration Incubator (CH2i)

Hydrogen-enabled aviation is seen as a critical component of addressing growing demand for air travel whilst transitioning to cleaner air transport.

With a target of net zero emissions aviation in domestic aviation by 2040, set out in the UK government’s Jet Zero strategy, CH2i will support the aviation industry to move towards the use of hydrogen at scale.

With £69 million investment, CH2i will connect and grow hydrogen facilities at Cranfield, supporting research and development across the whole supply chain from production, storage, transport and usage to assessing environmental impacts. For aviation, CH2i will be demonstrating where hydrogen can be integrated into both ground operations and as a fuel for aircraft propulsion.

Alongside this, CH2i’s work will inform policies, services and regulatory practices that are needed to realise regional, national and international economic growth and skills development opportunities.

CH2i will include three large infrastructure elements:

1. Hydrogen Integration Research Centre – extending an existing facility, this will include new labs for advanced materials synthesis and testing for hydrogen-based technologies, analytical laboratories and a dedicated innovation area to develop next generation hydrogen pilot plant demonstration, electrolysis, catalyst development and green hydrogen.
2. Enabling Hydrogen Innovation (Test Area) - investment into two separate test bed facilities, able to support hydrogen and liquid hydrogen activity, fuel systems, storage and propulsion system integration at mid- and high-technology readiness levels.
3. Developing Cranfield Airport’s runway, increasing its size and capacity to allow for safe operation and testing of larger demonstrator hydrogen-enabled aircraft.