RICARDO-UK-LTD
Cranfield Aerospace Solutions (CAeS) - the UK SME leading the Project Fresson consortium - announces it will exploit recent advances in hydrogen fuel cell technology to develop a commercially viable, retrofit powertrain solution for the nine-passenger Britten-Norman Islander aircraft.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210329005667/en/
Following a rigorous assessment of hydrogen technology innovators, CAeS is delighted to welcome Ricardo UK Ltd and Innovatus Technologies Ltd to the Fresson consortium. Ricardo UK Ltd brings expertise in fuel cell system development and Innovatus Technologies Ltd brings their innovative Scottish Hydrogen Fuel Tank (SHyFT) technology.
Steve Dyke, Managing Director Ricardo Automotive and Industrial EMEA Division said: “We are proud to join the Cranfield Aerospace Solutions consortium to play our part in helping to reduce the carbon footprint for commercial air passengers. We are already working on hydrogen and fuel cell technology, providing clean efficient solutions which reduce carbon and noxious emissions across a wide range of sectors. Our work for the Fresson consortium will enable us to consolidate and grow our hydrogen fuel cell and propulsion capability, so that Ricardo can achieve its ambition of becoming a world-leader in hydrogen and fuel cell services and solutions and help accelerate net zero transportation.”
Innovatus Technologies Ltd leads the field in next generation ultralightweight hydrogen tank design exploiting patented cellular core composite techniques. This is critical to the successful integration and exploitation of hydrogen fuel cell power systems in applications across aerospace, automotive, industrial, and marine sectors.
Ruan Swart, Chief Executive Officer Innovatus Technologies Ltd said: ““We are proud in being selected to join the Cranfield Aerospace Solutions, ‘Project Fresson’, consortium. Our unique and innovative SHyFT solution is game-changing in bringing zero carbon fuel cell energy to commercial reality in the transport sector. Project Fresson showcases important Scottish innovation and next generation hydrogen tank manufacturing in the UK.”
Project Fresson will deliver an emissions-free (zero CO2 ), hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered flying demonstrator by September 2022. Having completed a comprehensive evaluation of technologies and configurations for sustainable aircraft propulsion, the Fresson team concluded that hydrogen fuel cell technology is the optimum solution to meet environmental, regulatory and operational requirements for this size of aircraft, enabling zero carbon emissions and reducing operating costs. This has presented the Fresson consortium, which includes Britten-Norman and Cranfield University, with an opportunity to deliver an enhanced technology programme that surpasses the original demonstrator concept.
Paul Hutton, Chief Executive Officer, Cranfield Aerospace Solutions said: “This is incredibly important for the Project Fresson Team but also for everyone else around the world interested in zero emissions flight. This project can deliver the world’s first truly “green” passenger carrying airline services. The whole team is proud of what Project Fresson has achieved so far and excited about what is to come. I am very thankful for the support of the ATI and our investors for making this ground-breaking work a reality.”
Jenny Kavanagh, Chief Strategy Officer, Cranfield Aerospace Solutions added: “Covid-19 has caused the biggest crisis in aviation’s history. It’s important that, as the sector builds back better, it does so with sustainability at its heart. Project Fresson is more than just a technology demonstrator; it has one focus above all others: real operational and commercial viability.”
Project Fresson is supported by the ATI Programme, a joint Government and industry investment to maintain and grow the UK’s competitive position in civil aerospace design and manufacture. The programme, delivered through a partnership between the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and Innovate UK, addresses technology, capability and supply chain challenges.
As a result of these changes, there is now no longer a need for the Rolls-Royce element of the aircraft programme. It is therefore Rolls-Royce’s intention to withdraw from Project Fresson and the consortium is going through the necessary steps for this to happen. We thank Rolls-Royce for its contribution to Project Fresson and wish its team well. Rolls-Royce will continue to actively research the use of hydrogen in aviation and this decision in no way reflects its overall view of hydrogen as a potential technology.
Ends
Notes to editors
- To follow the progress of Project Fresson, visit the microsite: www.projectfresson.uk or follow on Twitter @projectfresson.
- Cranfield Aerospace Solutions (CAeS) is an aerospace market leader in rapid prototyping of new aerospace concepts, modifications to existing aerospace platforms and integration of cutting-edge technologies to meet the most challenging issues facing the industry today. CAeS is the wholly owned commercial arm of Cranfield University. Visit: www.cranfieldaerospace.com
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210329005667/en/
About Business Wire
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Tigo Energy Adds Dynamic Rate Management for EI Residential Solar-Plus-Storage Solution in EU9.12.2025 05:00:00 CET | Press release
Tigo EI Residential solar-plus-storage solution moves with real-world demand through a new smart feature that maximizes savings and grid independence. Tigo Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: TYGO) (“Tigo” or “Company”), a leading provider of intelligent solar and energy software solutions, today announced the addition of Dynamic Rate Management to the Tigo EI Residential solar-plus-storage solution. This new capability enables Tigo all-in-one ecosystem to intelligently respond dynamically to changes in electricity rates. This addition of Dynamic Rate Management comes at a time when European energy companies are rapidly expanding the use of dynamic rates across several EU nations. The Dynamic Rate Manager will be available for new Tigo EI customers as well as existing EI Residential system owners as a part of a software update with no additional hardware, accessories, or configuration required. The Dynamic Rate Management feature allows the EI Residential solution to automatically acquire and interp
SII Begins Mass Production of the World’s Smallest (1.0 × 0.8 × 0.32mm) Tuning-Fork Crystal Resonator “SC-10S”9.12.2025 03:00:00 CET | Press release
Achieving Both a 33% Reduction in Mounting Area and Low ESR Seiko Instruments Inc. (President: Yoichi Endo; Headquarters: Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture; hereinafter “SII”) will begin mass production of the “SC-10S” (32.768kHz), the world’s smallest* tuning-fork crystal resonator measuring 1.0 × 0.8mm, starting in April 2026. *Based on SII research as of November 2025. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251202800779/en/ Product Image-1 [Background of Development] SII has already been mass-producing the “SC-12S” (32.768kHz), one of the world’s smallest tuning-fork crystal resonators at 1.2 × 1.0mm. As wearable devices such as smart rings and smartwatches, as well as IoT devices, continue to become smaller, the electronic components built into these devices are increasingly required to support high-density mounting, low power consumption, and high performance. To meet these needs, SII leveraged its proprietary photol
Verimatrix: Signing of an Agreement for the Sale of XTD Assets (Code and Application Protection) to Guardsquare8.12.2025 17:45:00 CET | Press release
Sale of XTD assets (mobile application protection) including a portfolio of patents and a team of experts for an initial offer of $8.5m, the final price will be adjusted at the closing.Verimatrix refocuses on Anti-Piracy (video protection), the group's core business representing approximately 90% of its total revenue Regulatory News: VERIMATRIX (Euronext Paris: VMX, FR0010291245), a leading provider of user security solutions for a safer connected world, announces the signing of an agreement with Belgium-based Guardsquare, the leading provider of mobile application security, for the sale of its Extended Threat Defense (XTD) assets. Guardsquare, the creators of the open-source optimization tool, ProGuard, offers the most complete mobile application security platform on the market spanning automated testing and multi-layered protection, real time threat monitoring, and app attestation. Guardsquare’s 975+ customers are located in more than 95 countries and represent all major industries.
WNBA Champion Sabrina Ionescu Becomes Global Brand Ambassador for Ant International8.12.2025 17:00:00 CET | Press release
Four-time WNBA All-Star Sabrina Ionescu today becomes a new Global Brand Ambassador for Ant International, a leading global provider of digital payments, digitisation, and financial technology. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251208536426/en/ The partnership is built on a shared commitment to creating a more inclusive and sustainable world through empowering underserved communities and youth groups with sports and technology innovation. It marks an important step in Ant International’s journey to foster growth and expand access to financial tools through innovative technology. Ionescu serves as the first Ant International global brand ambassador from North America. “Sabrina embodies the spirit of perseverance and the passion for excellence that is driving young talents and small businesses around the world to uplift their communities,” said Douglas Feagin, President of Ant International. “As a legend in a spor
SABCS 2025: REVEAL GENOMICS Presents Major Advance in Predicting Brain Metastasis in HER2+ Breast Cancer8.12.2025 16:20:00 CET | Press release
The new HER2DX central nervous system (CNS) progression score predicts risk of brain progression in advanced HER2+ breast cancer, addressing a major unmet need in identifying patients at the highest risk of CNS involvement. During SABCS 2025, the company presents a total of 7 studies with 1,300 tumor samples analyzed, covering HER2-positive, ER-negative, and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), representing one of the largest and most comprehensive genomic data contributions to the symposium. New clinical evidence includes superior pCR prediction compared with TILs, demonstration of real-time genomic testing feasibility in an international trial, and validation of RNA-based ERBB2 assessment to accelerate clinical decision-making. REVEAL GENOMICS, S.L., a Barcelona-based biotechnology company focused on advancing precision oncology through biomarker innovation, announced today the presentation of seven studies at the upcoming San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) 2025, held Decem
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom