28th September in Berlin, Federal Minister Dr. Volker Wissing handed over the funding documents for the joint research project LiquiDrone. Which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport with a total of 892,000 euros. LiquiDrone’s research focuses on the storage of liquid hydrogen (LH2) as a sustainable energy source for drones.

Twelve liters of liquid hydrogen (the equivalent of about 850 grams) are to be stored safely at a temperature of -253 °C for the duration of the mission and made available for electric drone propulsion via a fuel cell.

The joint leader of the project, which will run until December 2023, is RST Rostock System-Technik GmbH. Other research partners include BaltiCo GmbH, the University of Rostock – Chair of Engineering Mechanics/Dynamics, and ZAL GmbH.

The main focus of ZAL GmbH is the provision of the test platform “ZALbatros”, a UAS already tested with a compressed hydrogen tank, as well as the development of an energy management system for the optimized use of the tank contents. ZAL GmbH will continue to handle the liquid hydrogen, the overall integration and the execution of the system tests under the leadership of Dr. Holger Kuhn.