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The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced it is allocating $175 million for 68 clean energy research and development (R&D) projects, including tasking (East Hartford, Conn., U.S.) to develop novel, high-efficiency hydrogen-fueled propulsion technology for commercial aviation.

Under the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E), the Hydrogen Steam Injected, Inter-Cooled Turbine Engine (HySIITE) project will use liquid hydrogen combustion and water vapor recovery to achieve zero in-flight CO₂ emissions, while reducing nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by up to 80% and reducing fuel consumption by up to 35% for next-generation single-aisle aircraft.

“Pratt & Whitney has a long legacy with hydrogen-fueled propulsion, and we are excited to advance this emerging technology as part of our comprehensive strategy to support the aviation industry’s ambitious goal of achieving net zero aircraft CO₂ emissions by 2050,” says Graham Webb Pratt & Whitney chief sustainability officer. 

The HySIITE engine will burn hydrogen in a thermodynamic engine cycle that incorporates steam injection to dramatically reduce emissions of NOx, a greenhouse gas. The semi-closed system architecture planned for HySIITE will achieve thermal efficiency greater than fuel cells and reduce total operating costs when compared to using “drop-in” sustainable aviation fuels. This is the first direct collaboration between Pratt & Whitney and ARPA-E.