Diamond Aircraft is leading the Hydrogen-based Twin-engine Electrification and Digitalization Testbed (H2EDT) project, an Austrian research initiative exploring the use of gaseous hydrogen in hybrid-electric propulsion systems for General Aviation and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM).
Funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) under the Take Off program, the project runs through 2025 at Diamond’s Wiener Neustadt facility.
In partnership with FH JOANNEUM, TU Graz, HyCentA, and IESTA, the H2EDT team is developing a modular, half-scale testbed platform. Designed to simulate both conventional twin-engine aircraft and emerging VTOL configurations, the system integrates up to ten electric motors, batteries, a hydrogen fuel cell, and onboard hydrogen storage.
To overcome hydrogen’s low power-to-weight ratio and storage challenges, the project uses a parallel hybrid architecture, allowing batteries and fuel cells to power any motor independently or in combination. A digital power management system, developed by FH JOANNEUM, dynamically optimizes energy flow for performance and safety.
A digital twin created in collaboration with TU Graz simulates performance, environmental effects, and potential failure modes. This model will support future certification pathways and scalability to platforms like the DA40 or DA42.
H2EDT builds on Diamond’s past hydrogen research and aims to accelerate safe, zero-emission aviation. Results are expected in early 2026.
