What if the future of flight isn’t just electric but hydrogen-powered, zero-emission, and built in Britain? That’s exactly the vision Intelligent Energy (IE), a deeptech company from Loughborough, just got £17 million in government-backed funding to deliver.
While industry giants like Airbus and Boeing talk about clean aviation futures, this nimble UK startup is building it – right now.
The £17M grant is backed by the Aerospace Technology Institute, the Department for Business & Trade, and Innovate UK, with support from big names in UK tech like the University of Sheffield AMRC, Coventry University, and MTC.
The funding will also support a £7.1M hydrogen test facility in Northamptonshire, helping Intelligent Energy gear up for full-scale production and potential deployment in certified aircraft by 2030.
And this isn’t just R&D. The project could spark over 1,600 new jobs and open a £19.6 billion market as global demand for clean aviation tech soars.
Flying is one of the biggest climate offenders – responsible for 2–3% of global CO₂ emissions, and growing. While electric cars are now mainstream, batteries are too heavy and limited to power planes.
That’s where hydrogen fuel cells come in. They’re light, powerful, and emit only water vapour.
Intelligent Energy’s project – IE-FLIGHT 300 – is aiming to change the game by developing a modular 300kW hydrogen fuel cell system built specifically for aircraft. Think eVTOLs, short-range commuter planes, and eventually regional jets, all flying without burning fossil fuel.
Competition?
Lots of companies are chasing hydrogen aviation but IE is solving a problem most overlook: how to cool fuel cells in flight without bulky, drag-inducing systems.
Their secret? A patented water-injection cooling system that’s compact, air-cooled, and ideal for aerodynamic efficiency. That means lighter aircraft, more range, and better performance without needing massive redesigns.
Big players like ZeroAvia, Universal Hydrogen, and Airbus are all racing toward zero-emission aviation. But while they’re planning decades out, Intelligent Energy is building now, with government support and 20+ years of fuel cell R&D under its belt.
Founded in 2001 by Harry Bradbury, who built on groundbreaking fuel cell research from Loughborough University Intelligent Energy has spent over two decades perfecting hydrogen fuel cell systems and even helped power the first manned hydrogen flight with Boeing back in 2008. Now, they’re going all-in on aviation.
“This programme is about getting hydrogen-powered aircraft in the air, and into service at scale, as quickly as possible,” David Woolhouse, Intelligent Energy CEO, said.
“We firmly believe that hydrogen will be the primary energy source for flight, initially for smaller aircraft but in the longer term for everything that flies. At Intelligent Energy, we have the IP built on 24 years’ experience to give us confidence that we can be the technical leader in this sector. This project supports us in making our modular system even smaller, lighter and more scalable.”
“We are expanding at pace because the UK has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to consolidate its global lead in hydrogen aviation and build a strong domestic manufacturing capability,” said Woolhouse. “The hydrogen economy for aviation will be a major industrial sector, and this support from ATI helps to keep our technology here in the UK.”
Jacqueline Castle, Chief Technology Officer at the Aerospace Technology Institute said: “Hydrogen as a fuel source is an essential part of the ATI’s technology roadmaps for future power and propulsion systems. We are delighted to be supporting Intelligent Energy’s HEIGHTS programme, which builds upon its prior expertise in fuel cell development to encompass novel means of addressing thermal management challenges associated with aircraft integration.
“The ATI’s FlyZero project identified the need for high-temperature fuel cell systems and world-class expertise on thermal management within the UK. This project brings the two together to develop what we expect to be a compelling, power dense solution for zero-carbon flight.”
