China has pushed a new hydrogen fuel cell system for drones closer to commercial deployment after the technology passed a national scientific appraisal in Dalian. Researchers say the system could dramatically extend drone flight times while reducing overall system weight, a major challenge for industrial unmanned aircraft.

Developed by the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the new fuel cell stack combines lightweight construction, high power output, and air-cooling technology. The team describes the system as a “hydrogen heart” for industrial-grade drones.

A hydrogen-powered drone equipped with the stack recently completed a successful demonstration flight in Dalian, located in northeast China’s Liaoning province.

Longer drone endurance

The technology targets one of the drone industry’s biggest technical problems. Conventional lithium batteries limit flight time, while many existing hydrogen fuel cell systems remain too bulky for large-scale industrial use.

Researchers said the new cathode-closed air-cooled stack delivers high performance without adding excessive weight. During testing, the system achieved a specific power of 1,970 watts per 2.2 pounds and an area power density of 1.15 watts per square centimeter.

The appraisal committee stated that the stack’s specific power ranks among the highest in the world. The committee also said the overall technology reached an internationally leading level.

“The endurance of industrial drones equipped with this system has more than tripled compared with that of conventional batteries,” said Chen Zhongwei, technical leader of the project.

Moving beyond the laboratory

The technology recently passed a scientific and technological achievement appraisal organized by the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation.

According to the appraisal committee, the project demonstrates strong innovation and includes independent intellectual property rights.

Chen said the system has already moved beyond experimental development and into practical deployment.

“This “hydrogen heart” has achieved the transition from laboratory development to large-scale application,” said Chen Zhongwei, the project’s technical lead and director of the State Key Laboratory of Catalysis at the DICP.

The project arrives as China accelerates investment in what officials call the “low-altitude economy.” The sector includes drones, autonomous aircraft, and other aerial systems designed for industrial and commercial missions.

“As the low-altitude economy is incorporated into China’s strategic emerging industries, problems such as the short endurance of conventional lithium batteries and the bulkiness of existing fuel cell systems have become bottlenecks restricting industrial development,” said Chen, who also heads the power battery and system research department at DICP.

Expanding industrial operations

Researchers said operators already use the hydrogen-powered system in forestry management, agriculture, power grid inspections, and emergency rescue missions. Those sectors require longer flight times than most battery-powered drones can currently deliver. Industrial operators in the United States also continue searching for longer-endurance drone systems for infrastructure monitoring, wildfire response, and remote surveying.

Hydrogen fuel cells could help fill that gap because they generate electricity continuously while carrying less weight than large battery packs. Air-cooling systems also reduce mechanical complexity compared with liquid-cooled alternatives. The Dalian research team now appears focused on scaling production and deployment as demand grows for longer-range industrial drones capable of carrying heavier payloads.