Europe-based global major aerospace group Airbus has announced that it has opened a new hydrogen technologies research unit, in Germany. Designated the ZEROe Development Centre (ZEDC), the facility will focus on developing hydrogen system technologies which use composite materials. It is located at the group’s Stade complex, in Lower Saxony. ZEROe is the Airbus initiative to decarbonise aviation.

“Establishing a composite-related ZEDC in Germany strengthens our research and technology footprint in the country and ensures the involvement, from the start, of leading experts to support our decarbonisation ambition,” highlighted Airbus chief technology officer Sabine Klauke. “Furthermore, the ZEDC will benefit from the wider composite research and development ecosystem such as the Airbus subsidiary Composite Technology Centre (CTC GmbH), the CFK NORD [research centre] in Stade as well as from further synergies from space and maritime activities.”

The ZEDC has, as a priority, the development of lightweight composite hydrogen systems that are cost-competitive. These include cryogenic hydrogen tanks. This work will be coordinated with other Airbus facilities in all the group’s home countries. ZEDC technology development will include the whole range from elementary parts, to assembly, to manufacturing-related testing of these composite liquid hydrogen tanks.

The establishment of the ZEDC has been supported by public funding, including from the Lower Saxony State government and the LuFo Federal aeronautics research programme, among others. The Airbus centre will also be connected with the planned Hydrogen Technology Centre (ITZ), to be set up in northern Germany.

The ZEDC is just one of a series of Airbus facilities focused on decarbonising aviation. It will complement activities already under way at Airbus’ facilities in Bremen (Germany), Filton (UK), Madrid (Spain) and Nantes (France). The aim is to achieve the flight of a hydrogen-powered aircraft by 2035.