Airbus opens new ZEROe development center in Germany

By establishing a ZEROe Development Centre (ZEDC) for hydrogen technologies at its Stade site, Airbus is enhancing its footprint in Germany. The facility will quicken the advancement of technologies for distributing and storing cryogenic liquid hydrogen through composite hydrogen systems.

In Germany, Airbus has long been at the forefront of composite technologies, both in terms of raw materials and production techniques.

A priority for the Stade ZEDC is the development of cost-competitive lightweight Hydrogen systems (e.g. cryogenic Hydrogen tank) in composites. The product and industrial capabilities starting with basic parts, assembly, and manufacturing-related testing of the liquid hydrogen (LH2) composite tanks will all be covered by the technology development. The development of the tank is coordinated with the other national Airbus entities.

In addition to receiving funding from the government (through LuFo, Lower Saxony funding, and other sources), the ZEDC in Stade will be connected to the upcoming Innovation and Technology Centre Hydrogen (ITZ) in Northern Germany. This will help to realize the potential of hydrogen technology and aid in the decarbonization of the aviation sector.

A network of development centers for technologies aimed at decarbonizing the aerospace industry includes the ZEDC Stade. To have a hydrogen-powered aircraft in the air by 2035, it will supplement the other efforts being made by the Airbus sites in Bremen, Germany; Nantes, France; Madrid, Spain; and Filton, UK.