Paul Perera’s Post

Swiss start-up New Generation Tanks (NGT) is pioneering a novel thermoplastic composite hydrogen storage solution, aiming to revolutionize the industry with increased conformability, reduced weight, and complete recyclability. By leveraging an innovative pressure tank design and carbon fiber architecture, NGT’s solution minimizes material use and replaces non-recyclable epoxy with thermoplastic polymers. This approach not only reduces the risk of liner collapse but also significantly increases H2 storage capacity, potentially quadrupling the volume carried by traditional 40-tonne tube trailers. NGT’s prototype cylinder has already exceeded expectations, achieving a burst pressure of 1,235 bar, well above the targeted 1,050 bar. The start-up’s standardized production process allows for the manufacture of both customised prototypes and large-series pressure tanks that are lightweight, recyclable & corrosion-resistant. NGT is currently raising €2-4M to expand its team and finalize product development, with the goal of achieving certification under the Transportable Pressure Equipment Directive (TPED) within 18-24 months. Initially focusing on light mobility vehicles, NGT aims to prove its technology’s potential before scaling to commercial vehicle & gas transport applications.

Starting Small: The Path to Scaling Hydrogen Propulsion in Aviation? Graham Warwick’s recent article sheds light on the pivotal debate in the hydrogen aviation space: Can we successfully scale hydrogen propulsion from niche applications to mainstream commercial aviation? Universal Hydrogen’s recent closure has intensified this discussion, particularly around the strategy of starting small. Key insights from industry leaders like Cranfield Aerospace Solutions and ZeroAvia highlight that beginning with smaller aircraft, like the Britten-Norman Islander or the ATR 72, is not just about testing technology. It’s about building the necessary ecosystem—from airport infrastructure to regulatory frameworks—that will support hydrogen as a viable aviation fuel. ZeroAvia’s ambitious roadmap, from retrofitting small aircraft to tackling the narrowbody market, demonstrates the scalability potential. Their work on the ZA2000 powertrain and hybrid propulsion systems underscores the complex challenges ahead, particularly around power density & liquid hydrogen storage. Meanwhile, GKN Aerospace’s #H2Gear project takes a bold approach with centralised, cryogenic hydrogen-electric powertrains. Norman Wood, GKN’s Technical Fellow and Aircraft Architect, emphasises the importance of this centralised approach: “It’s not ‘if,’ it’s ‘when’ you have hydrogen leakage.” By housing the system in a centralised, fire-protected safe zone, GKN aims to minimise risks associated with hydrogen distribution across the aircraft. Wood notes, “Centralised is the only way forward to meet the targets… Anything that involves distributing hydrogen around the aircraft is incurring risk.” Wood also highlights the innovation in their cryogenic systems: “Supercooling the power conduits, inverters, and motors increases powertrain efficiency downstream of the fuel cells at least 10% over a noncryogenic system. This cancels out the added mass of the cryogenic system, then hybridisation reduces overall stack gross power, fuel flow, and tank size.” GKN’s vision extends to larger aircraft, including a concept for a 160-seater, proving that scalability is not just possible but within reach. “Now that we are confident we can manage the CG range, and given our capability to model scalable ducted fans, we are revisiting the rear fan configurations,” Wood adds, signaling ongoing advancements in design and safety considerations. This journey is not just technological but also about gaining public, governmental & industry confidence. As we progress, the question remains: how soon can these innovations make a significant impact on reducing aviation’s carbon footprint? With HyFlux & Airbus with their Airbus UpNext Cryoprop solution with full superconducting motors & drives, as well as their ability to finance this transition ahead of the next narrowbody market entry - 2035 is what is needed. #HydrogenAviation #H2 #LH2 #SustainableAviation #Hydrogen #ZeroEmission #Innovation #AerospaceEngineering

NVIDIA Shares Drop Despite Doubling Revenue, Amidst Lofty Expectations Shares in Nvidia fell by more than 5% on Thursday afternoon as the chipmaker’s latest earnings report failed to meet Wall Street’s high expectations, despite a 122% increase in revenue in the last quarter. This dip took over $150bn off Nvidia’s market value, though the company’s shares remain up nearly 150% since the start of 2024. Deutsche Bank’s macro strategist Henry Allen noted, “The revenue outperformance was the smallest relative to expectations in six quarters, so this wasn’t the sort of massive beat that Nvidia has often reported.” Despite the decline, Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang reassured investors of the company’s robust outlook, emphasizing continued innovation in AI chip production. Bank of America analyst Vivek Arya, PhD called the share price moves “quarterly noise” and highlighted Nvidia’s “unique growth at a very reasonable valuation.” As Nvidia continues to be a “bellwether” for the broader technology industry, its earnings are now viewed as crucial as the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy decisions, says Jefferies strategist Mohit Kumar. #Nvidia #AI #TechStocks #WallStreet #Innovation #MarketTrends

Just finished reading an insightful study by Roland Berger on the economic viability of electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft within the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) market. Here are some key takeaways: 1. Market Overview: 🔻 Investment Trends: The AAM market experienced a significant surge in investment from $1.6 billion in 2020 to $7.5 billion in 2021, but this growth slowed in 2022 and 2023 due to macroeconomic challenges. 🎢 Gartner Hype Cycle: The industry is navigating the downturn phase but is expected to rebound as viable technical and commercial solutions emerge. 2. Market Segmentation: ✈️ The AAM market is segmented into UAVs, Urban Air Mobility (UAM), Regional Air Mobility (RAM), and Regional Air Transportation (RAT), each requiring distinct aircraft types, propulsion systems, and infrastructure. 3. Challenges and Proof of Concept: 🚁• Technical Proof of Concept: Achieving certification for aircraft and scaling production is essential for commercial operations. 💲 Commercial Proof of Concept: The AAM ecosystem must align efficiently to reduce unit economics and ensure service viability, necessitating collaboration across stakeholders. 4. Unit Economics Analysis: 🛄 Use Cases: The study analysed three use cases—City Taxi, Airport Shuttle, and Inter City. While current unit economics are higher than expected, costs can be optimised by using low-cost vertiports, remote piloting, and enhancing battery longevity. 🪫 Cost Drivers: Energy, aircraft acquisition, battery replacement, and vertiport fees are the primary cost drivers affecting ticket prices. 5. Conclusion: 💲 Economic Viability: AAM is viable in premium markets, particularly for time-sensitive travelers, but broader adoption will depend on cost reductions and ecosystem development. 🎢 Future Outlook: The AAM industry is likely to see successful commercialisation in niche markets first, with long-term success hinging on a clear business case and improvements in battery technology. 6. Recommendations: ⛓️ Collaboration among OEMs, operators, and stakeholders is crucial to enhancing efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The development of non-aviation revenue streams for vertiports and confidence in battery technology are critical for the industry’s commercial viability. The study highlights the significant challenges and opportunities ahead for the AAM market, focusing on how eVTOL aircraft can transform urban and regional transportation. <Source: https://lnkd.in/e_2WeYvJ> #AdvancedAirMobility #eVTOL #SustainableAviation #UrbanAirMobility #Innovation #Aerospace #FutureOfFlight #ElectricAviation #SmartCities #MobilityInnovation

🚗 China’s EV Market Surpasses ICE Sales for the First Time! 🚗 In a landmark moment for the global automotive industry, electric vehicle (EV) sales in China have overtaken conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) sales. In July 2024, EVs accounted for 51.05% of all light vehicle sales, and the trend is accelerating. August projections show EV sales capturing 53.2% of the market, driven by affordable models and strong policy support. This shift highlights the power of strategic incentives, such as China’s recent EV trade-in programs and local government tax breaks. Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs), in particular, are leading the charge, with sales soaring by 80.7% year-on-year, thanks to their versatility and extended range capabilities. As China continues to push the boundaries of EV adoption, it’s clear that the global automotive landscape is on the brink of a significant transformation. <Source: https://lnkd.in/ezNyMirB> 🔋 #ElectricVehicles #Electrification #Sustainability #Automotive #Innovation #EV #Batteries #China

Great message from a #Sustainable #Airline CEO, Anko van der Werff, we need investment in the right solutions to curb the growth which air traffic will bring to CO2 and #NonCO2 global warming effects. Some enlightened airlines like easyJet are putting their ‘Offsetting’ funds into technology like Hydrogen Electric with Rolls-Royce, GKN Aerospace and Cranfield Aerospace Solutions. Would be great to see HyFlux might also be in your future aircraft offering #TrueZero emissions propulsion, in the same direction as Airbus UpNext is heading.

💦 Tianmushan No. 1: China Unveils the World’s First 62-Mile-Range Hydrogen-Powered Drone with Groundbreaking 4-Hour Flight Capability 🤖 Technical Details: • Weight: 42 pounds (19 kg) with a maximum payload of 13 pounds (6 kg). • Endurance: Flies continuously for over 4 hours. • Range: Capable of beyond-visual-range operation up to 100 kilometers (62 miles). • Fuel System: Equipped with a self-developed hydrogen fuel cell, offering 5-6 times higher energy density than conventional lithium batteries. • Design Features: • Lightweight carbon fiber body. • Integrated intelligent parachute system for enhanced safety. • One-button autonomous take-off and landing. • Operates in extreme cold and high-altitude environments. • Applications: Tested in diverse scenarios such as oil and gas exploration, power inspection, emergency rescue, forest protection, and water conservancy monitoring. #HydrogenPower #DroneInnovation #UAVTechnology #Aerospace #SustainableEnergy #ChinaTech #Tianmushan #DroneSafety #AviationMilestone #TechRevolution

‼️Deadline is tomorrow to review the Hydrogen Uk survey ♻️ I’m finding a moment to remind the community interested in #Hydrogen and its development in the UK to take a moment tonight - Hydrogen Innovation Initiative led by Gareth Williams and Katy Milne as part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult.

Re-listening to Lorenzo Simonelli, Baker Hughes CEO, from earlier this year as we approach COP29, we need a just and fair transition globally - he asks how do we do this through technology and pledges that have been made? 1. Scale Technology Available - Move Faster with technologies capable 2. It's not about fuel source but emissions - and important we advocate for cleaner energy system 3. Requires all of us together - Eco-System of Partnerships in the Energy Transition Adding we need to work on all three horizons for technologies, and realising by 2030 we need to decarbonise. It is about the next 5 years - between now and 2030, and a sustainable energy development. Growth without compromising the energy needs for the future, Sustainability, Affordability, and Security - but with #efficiency, a decade of efficiency. If we can double the improvement on efficiency by double to 4% we can drive to the 2050 Paris Accord. #COP29 #Florence #ClimateChange #TechnologyForward #GenAI #ArtificialIntelligence #ClimateTech #EnergyTransition #Decarbonisation #ParisAgreement