Hydrogen-Based Fuel Cell System for Drone Applications

Research Project, 2026 – 2027

Current drones are limited by short battery life, restricting their use in logistics, emergency response and long-range monitoring. These limitations become even greater in Nordic conditions, where cold temperatures sharply reduce battery performance.
This project develops a lightweight air cooled hydrogen fuel-cell power system with a closed-cathode architecture that enables drones to fly three times longer than battery-powered systems and operate reliably down to ?20 °C — conditions where today's batteries and existing fuel-cell solutions both fail. The technology supports medical sample delivery, logistics to remote islands, infrastructure inspection, forestry monitoring and surveillance missions. Through extended flight time and rapid refuelling, the project enables more sustainable and reliable drone operations. Built on a European supply chain, it also strengthens Sweden's position in hydrogen and advanced-mobility technology.