EU Funded Project for Liquid Hydrogen Aviation
The ATLAS project has secured funding to develop liquid hydrogen storage for future commercial aircraft.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Energy
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The European Union has selected the ATLAS project, coordinated by the University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli and partner Simplifhy, as part of a 290 million euro funding initiative. The project aims to develop liquid hydrogen storage systems to help achieve aviation sector decarbonization.
Why it matters
Developing efficient liquid hydrogen storage is critical to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in commercial aviation. This project aims to meet rigorous performance benchmarks to support the transition to sustainable flight technologies by 2035.
ATLAS targets a minimum gravimetric index of 40% and a no-vent hold time exceeding 12 hours. These benchmarks are required to make liquid hydrogen a viable, long-duration fuel source for aircraft.
The players
University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli
This Italian institution serves as the coordinator for the ATLAS project.
Simplifhy
This technical partner is responsible for the functional design and parameter monitoring of the hydrogen storage system.
Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking
This European Union initiative manages the funding and selection process for aerospace research projects.
The details
The project will involve full-scale tank design and the construction of a reduced-scale demonstrator. Simplifhy is tasked with managing functional design and the continuous monitoring of key system parameters.
Timeline
Work on the ATLAS project begins in early 2027.
Ground demonstrations are scheduled to take place in 2029.
Flight tests for the storage technology are set for 2030.
The target for commercial decarbonized aircraft is 2035.
The Big Picture
This project aligns with the European Union's 2035 commercial aircraft decarbonization target. It shifts the industry focus toward hydrogen integration, replacing legacy fossil fuel systems with sustainable alternatives.
The development of these storage tanks could enable longer-range, zero-emission commercial flights. Success in this project will facilitate the future adoption of hydrogen-powered aircraft, ultimately reducing the carbon footprint of global travel.
The takeaway
Achieving flight-ready hydrogen storage requires overcoming significant thermal and weight constraints. Successful implementation of these systems by 2030 will be a major indicator of the viability of hydrogen for long-haul commercial aviation.
Further reading
For more on the latest research in this sector, visit the /science/energy/ section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fuelcellsworks.
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