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2025-10-23
[2025-10-23 ~
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The Adoption of Hydrogen-powered Drones Has Become an Inevitable Trend
The Adoption of Hydrogen-powered Drones Has Become an Inevitable Trend
The applications of drones are extensive, spanning construction, energy, agriculture, disaster relief, logistics, and even military sectors, with a substantial market size and growth potential. Although the drone industry is experiencing rapid expansion, its progress is increasingly constrained by current energy storage technologies. Currently, the vast majority of drones rely on lithium batteries as their power source. Due to inherent physical limitations, these batteries impose bottlenecks that restrict improvements in flight endurance, payload capacity, and operational efficiency. Most drones powered by lithium batteries have a flight time of less than 60 minutes; when carrying heavy loads, effective flight time drops to just 10 minutes. Unless equipped with internal combustion engines, further improvements remain limited. However, internal combustion engines are primarily suitable for military applications and offer limited practical value for industrial use. The industry widely recognizes that transitioning to hydrogen fuel cells, which significantly outperform lithium batteries in endurance, is the only viable solution to overcome current technological limitations in drones.
The Current Mainstream Power Source, Lithium Battery Technology, Limits the Development of DronesThe predecessor of drones—traditional remote-controlled aircraft—was limited by the capabilities of battery technology and therefore adopted fuel engines, which offer advantages such as low cost and high energy density, unmatched by current electric power technologies. The long-range flight capability and high durability make them suitable for large fixed-wing drones. However, disadvantages, including air pollution, noise, and more complex maintenance, have limited their popularity and applicability. The rise in popularity of small drones is closely linked to the advent of high-capacity and reasonably priced lithium batteries capable of getting, installing, and replacing. However, lithium battery power has drawbacks, including limited energy storage. After energy consumption by the controller, motor, and propeller, only about 70% of the battery’s energy remains usable, resulting in limited endurance—a full charge typically lasts only about 10 minutes, or at most 30 to 40 minutes. Another drawback is the lengthy charging time required after a flight, which further disrupts drone operations. Although battery replacement can reduce some downtime, it requires carrying extra batteries and maintaining a power source for remote charging, thereby increasing logistical complexity and operating costs. Similar to cars, another power source for drones is hybrid power, which can extend endurance but requires more space within the airframe, has a complex structure, and entails higher costs and maintenance expenses, making widespread adoption difficult. A simple analysis of these three power sources reveals that none are ideal energy solutions for drones. Since hydrogen offers the advantages of clean energy and has been commercialized in cars for nearly a decade, the industry has recently begun actively exploring its feasibility for use in drones. As hydrogen is the lightest element in the world, technologies for liquefying, compressing, and storing it in hydrogen tanks have been established, which in turn inspire potential applications in drones. Furthermore, hydrogen-powered drones use fuel cells and can be quickly refueled, offering both high endurance and convenience. In summary, drones powered by hydrogen energy combine the advantages of fuel, hybrid power, and lithium battery energy sources.
Hydrogen Energy Extends Drone Endurance, Unlocking a Wider Range of New ApplicationsWhile increasing the capacity of lithium batteries by adding more cells is possible, it comes at the cost of added weight, making the battery's weight a limiting factor for endurance. Hydrogen energy, on the other hand, provides a weight advantage, especially for medium to large drones, and offers higher efficiency compared to lithium batteries. Industry data shows that hydrogen fuel cells are over four times more energy-efficient than lithium batteries. With longer endurance, hydrogen-powered drones can complete missions in a single flight, thereby broadening the applications and business opportunities of drones. This drives the industry's focus on developing hydrogen technology. Beyond endurance, lithium batteries face other limitations that highlight the benefits of hydrogen energy. Lithium batteries struggle in extreme cold or heat, lack thermal stability, and risk fires or explosions due to thermal runaway. They also degrade over time, necessitating replacements and increasing maintenance costs, which in turn limit scalability. In contrast, hydrogen fuel cells operate reliably in temperatures from -20°C to 40°C, are impact-resistant due to their metal construction, and hardly deteriorate. With the ability to repeatedly replenish fuel, hydrogen fuel cells are nearly permanent, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly.
Advances in Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology Are Enabling Drones to Achieve Greater Autonomy and Increased Payload CapacityAdopting hydrogen as a power source can significantly expand the application fields of drones, with electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft being the most prominent example. These aircraft can operate like helicopters piloted by humans or evolve toward remote-controlled or fully unmanned modes. Traditionally, such applications have relied on lithium batteries, which benefit from high technological maturity and have consistently maintained a cost advantage over hydrogen power. However, in recent years, hydrogen fuel cell development has advanced rapidly, with notable improvements in both performance and cost. For instance, early hydrogen fuel cells were often criticized for having only 40% efficiency, but this has increased to 60% in recent years. When the heat generated by the fuel cell is utilized for power generation in a combined heat and power (CHP) system, overall efficiency can exceed 80%. Although lithium batteries have an energy conversion efficiency of over 80%, the gap is gradually narrowing as hydrogen fuel cells improve. Additionally, lithium batteries require longer charging times and have payload capacity limitations. In large drone applications, the relative advantages of hydrogen energy become even more pronounced. According to estimates from Alaka'i Technologies, using their Skai model as an example, the initial hourly flight cost is approximately 10% lower than that of comparable lithium battery-powered drones, with potential reductions eventually reaching 20% to 30%.Manufacturers of eVTOLs powered by lithium batteries primarily face technical challenges that hinder market progress and trigger financial difficulties. Although these technical issues vary—such as structural design flaws that cause overloads in high-level disc loads within the propulsion system, leading to excessive power consumption during vertical takeoff and landing—the common problem is generally attributed to the excessive size and weight of lithium battery systems. This limitation restricts the payload capacity to four passengers, significantly below the intended six to seven, and consequently reduces speed and range performance. The weight of lithium batteries directly competes with payload capacity, forcing a trade-off between endurance and the ability to carry essential mission equipment or cargo. In contrast, industry estimates indicate that one pound of hydrogen contains 200 times the energy of an equivalent weight of battery, enabling hydrogen-powered drones to achieve greater autonomy and payload capacity.
The Experience Gained from Hydrogen Energy in the Automotive Industry Will Help Accelerate Development in the Drone SectorDrones powered by hydrogen have reached a stage where commercialization is feasible, building on the foundation established by the long-term development of hydrogen energy in the automotive industry. Significant progress has been made in infrastructure, safety management, and supply chain integration. For example, in terms of safety management, to meet stringent automotive standards, highly sensitive hydrogen sensors capable of withstanding extreme temperatures have been developed and mass-produced for several years. These sensors are used in various hydrogen vehicles, including small cars, buses, and heavy trucks. Since drones do not carry passengers, using hydrogen as a power source is theoretically less demanding in terms of safety compared to hydrogen vehicles. However, applying the experience gained from hydrogen sensors in vehicles to drones still enables comprehensive monitoring of the hydrogen fuel system's safety. Once an abnormal hydrogen concentration is detected, indicating a possible leak, the sensors can immediately trigger an alert and activate safety mechanisms such as guiding the drone to land or return to the take-off point and shutting off the hydrogen tank to prevent potential explosions or fire hazards. Furthermore, hydrogen sensors can effectively monitor operational status by working in conjunction with the fuel cell system's control module to track real-time hydrogen consumption and remaining supply. This ensures stable fuel delivery, optimizes energy use through the management system, and improves flight efficiency. A particular challenge is that hydrogen-powered drones face more complex regulatory and certification processes, which may slow market adoption. Nonetheless, hydrogen drones have already demonstrated their capability to replace lithium batteries and can be widely used in demanding fields that require long endurance, heavy load capacity, and extended hovering, such as logistics, aerial reconnaissance, and emergency rescue. This inevitable trend will continue to drive industry investment in new technologies and market development. Based on Market Report Analytics, the total market for hydrogen drones could reach USD 3 billion by 2026, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25% between 2023 and 2028, and volumes could reach 200 million units by 2030. These figures indicate that the market prospects for drones powered by hydrogen energy are promising.
Reference:
1. Vicor Corporation, Media Alert, 2021-01-12, Powering Innovation: World’s first commercialized hydrogen fuel cell powers drones for humanitarian missions
2. MRA, 2025-07-28, Hydrogen-Powered Drone Market Predictions: Growth and Size Trends to 2033
3. AIN on Line, 2024-3-15, Hanneke Weitering, Alaka’i Makes the Case for Hydrogen-powered eVTOL Aircraft
4. Flight Global, 2025-08-21, Dominic Perry, Dutch firm AAMG faces uphill battle to revive Lilium eVTOL despite €250 million backing
5. Drone Life, 2025-04-04, Miriam McNabb, Breaking the Limits: How Solid-State Hydrogen is Powering the Next Generation of UAVs
The Current Mainstream Power Source, Lithium Battery Technology, Limits the Development of DronesThe predecessor of drones—traditional remote-controlled aircraft—was limited by the capabilities of battery technology and therefore adopted fuel engines, which offer advantages such as low cost and high energy density, unmatched by current electric power technologies. The long-range flight capability and high durability make them suitable for large fixed-wing drones. However, disadvantages, including air pollution, noise, and more complex maintenance, have limited their popularity and applicability. The rise in popularity of small drones is closely linked to the advent of high-capacity and reasonably priced lithium batteries capable of getting, installing, and replacing. However, lithium battery power has drawbacks, including limited energy storage. After energy consumption by the controller, motor, and propeller, only about 70% of the battery’s energy remains usable, resulting in limited endurance—a full charge typically lasts only about 10 minutes, or at most 30 to 40 minutes. Another drawback is the lengthy charging time required after a flight, which further disrupts drone operations. Although battery replacement can reduce some downtime, it requires carrying extra batteries and maintaining a power source for remote charging, thereby increasing logistical complexity and operating costs. Similar to cars, another power source for drones is hybrid power, which can extend endurance but requires more space within the airframe, has a complex structure, and entails higher costs and maintenance expenses, making widespread adoption difficult. A simple analysis of these three power sources reveals that none are ideal energy solutions for drones. Since hydrogen offers the advantages of clean energy and has been commercialized in cars for nearly a decade, the industry has recently begun actively exploring its feasibility for use in drones. As hydrogen is the lightest element in the world, technologies for liquefying, compressing, and storing it in hydrogen tanks have been established, which in turn inspire potential applications in drones. Furthermore, hydrogen-powered drones use fuel cells and can be quickly refueled, offering both high endurance and convenience. In summary, drones powered by hydrogen energy combine the advantages of fuel, hybrid power, and lithium battery energy sources.
Hydrogen Energy Extends Drone Endurance, Unlocking a Wider Range of New ApplicationsWhile increasing the capacity of lithium batteries by adding more cells is possible, it comes at the cost of added weight, making the battery's weight a limiting factor for endurance. Hydrogen energy, on the other hand, provides a weight advantage, especially for medium to large drones, and offers higher efficiency compared to lithium batteries. Industry data shows that hydrogen fuel cells are over four times more energy-efficient than lithium batteries. With longer endurance, hydrogen-powered drones can complete missions in a single flight, thereby broadening the applications and business opportunities of drones. This drives the industry's focus on developing hydrogen technology. Beyond endurance, lithium batteries face other limitations that highlight the benefits of hydrogen energy. Lithium batteries struggle in extreme cold or heat, lack thermal stability, and risk fires or explosions due to thermal runaway. They also degrade over time, necessitating replacements and increasing maintenance costs, which in turn limit scalability. In contrast, hydrogen fuel cells operate reliably in temperatures from -20°C to 40°C, are impact-resistant due to their metal construction, and hardly deteriorate. With the ability to repeatedly replenish fuel, hydrogen fuel cells are nearly permanent, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly.
Advances in Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology Are Enabling Drones to Achieve Greater Autonomy and Increased Payload CapacityAdopting hydrogen as a power source can significantly expand the application fields of drones, with electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft being the most prominent example. These aircraft can operate like helicopters piloted by humans or evolve toward remote-controlled or fully unmanned modes. Traditionally, such applications have relied on lithium batteries, which benefit from high technological maturity and have consistently maintained a cost advantage over hydrogen power. However, in recent years, hydrogen fuel cell development has advanced rapidly, with notable improvements in both performance and cost. For instance, early hydrogen fuel cells were often criticized for having only 40% efficiency, but this has increased to 60% in recent years. When the heat generated by the fuel cell is utilized for power generation in a combined heat and power (CHP) system, overall efficiency can exceed 80%. Although lithium batteries have an energy conversion efficiency of over 80%, the gap is gradually narrowing as hydrogen fuel cells improve. Additionally, lithium batteries require longer charging times and have payload capacity limitations. In large drone applications, the relative advantages of hydrogen energy become even more pronounced. According to estimates from Alaka'i Technologies, using their Skai model as an example, the initial hourly flight cost is approximately 10% lower than that of comparable lithium battery-powered drones, with potential reductions eventually reaching 20% to 30%.Manufacturers of eVTOLs powered by lithium batteries primarily face technical challenges that hinder market progress and trigger financial difficulties. Although these technical issues vary—such as structural design flaws that cause overloads in high-level disc loads within the propulsion system, leading to excessive power consumption during vertical takeoff and landing—the common problem is generally attributed to the excessive size and weight of lithium battery systems. This limitation restricts the payload capacity to four passengers, significantly below the intended six to seven, and consequently reduces speed and range performance. The weight of lithium batteries directly competes with payload capacity, forcing a trade-off between endurance and the ability to carry essential mission equipment or cargo. In contrast, industry estimates indicate that one pound of hydrogen contains 200 times the energy of an equivalent weight of battery, enabling hydrogen-powered drones to achieve greater autonomy and payload capacity.
The Experience Gained from Hydrogen Energy in the Automotive Industry Will Help Accelerate Development in the Drone SectorDrones powered by hydrogen have reached a stage where commercialization is feasible, building on the foundation established by the long-term development of hydrogen energy in the automotive industry. Significant progress has been made in infrastructure, safety management, and supply chain integration. For example, in terms of safety management, to meet stringent automotive standards, highly sensitive hydrogen sensors capable of withstanding extreme temperatures have been developed and mass-produced for several years. These sensors are used in various hydrogen vehicles, including small cars, buses, and heavy trucks. Since drones do not carry passengers, using hydrogen as a power source is theoretically less demanding in terms of safety compared to hydrogen vehicles. However, applying the experience gained from hydrogen sensors in vehicles to drones still enables comprehensive monitoring of the hydrogen fuel system's safety. Once an abnormal hydrogen concentration is detected, indicating a possible leak, the sensors can immediately trigger an alert and activate safety mechanisms such as guiding the drone to land or return to the take-off point and shutting off the hydrogen tank to prevent potential explosions or fire hazards. Furthermore, hydrogen sensors can effectively monitor operational status by working in conjunction with the fuel cell system's control module to track real-time hydrogen consumption and remaining supply. This ensures stable fuel delivery, optimizes energy use through the management system, and improves flight efficiency. A particular challenge is that hydrogen-powered drones face more complex regulatory and certification processes, which may slow market adoption. Nonetheless, hydrogen drones have already demonstrated their capability to replace lithium batteries and can be widely used in demanding fields that require long endurance, heavy load capacity, and extended hovering, such as logistics, aerial reconnaissance, and emergency rescue. This inevitable trend will continue to drive industry investment in new technologies and market development. Based on Market Report Analytics, the total market for hydrogen drones could reach USD 3 billion by 2026, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25% between 2023 and 2028, and volumes could reach 200 million units by 2030. These figures indicate that the market prospects for drones powered by hydrogen energy are promising.
Reference:
1. Vicor Corporation, Media Alert, 2021-01-12, Powering Innovation: World’s first commercialized hydrogen fuel cell powers drones for humanitarian missions
2. MRA, 2025-07-28, Hydrogen-Powered Drone Market Predictions: Growth and Size Trends to 2033
3. AIN on Line, 2024-3-15, Hanneke Weitering, Alaka’i Makes the Case for Hydrogen-powered eVTOL Aircraft
4. Flight Global, 2025-08-21, Dominic Perry, Dutch firm AAMG faces uphill battle to revive Lilium eVTOL despite €250 million backing
5. Drone Life, 2025-04-04, Miriam McNabb, Breaking the Limits: How Solid-State Hydrogen is Powering the Next Generation of UAVs
