Summary
- Profile Type
- Technology offer
- POD Reference
- TOKR20250522001
- Term of Validity
- 28 May 2025 - 28 May 2026
- Company's Country
- South Korea
- Type of partnership
- Commercial agreement with technical assistance
- Targeted Countries
- All countries
Contact the EEN partner nearest to you for more information.
Find my local partner
General information
- Short Summary
- A Korean SME having advanced cryogenic liquid hydrogen storage technology has developed liquid hydrogen power pack for UAVs. Compared to conventional battery drones, this system offers long flight times and fast refueling, making it more suitable for coastal, wildfire, and infrastructure monitoring. The Korean company is seeking European partners for joint deployment, licensing, or localisation under commercial agreement with technical assistance.
- Full Description
-
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), or commonly known as a drone, was originally developed for military missions. As control technologies improved and costs fell, its use has been expanding to many non-military applications such as monitoring of major infrastructure and environment, policing and surveillance, product deliveries, entertainment, aerial photography, etc.
Currently, the majority of drones are battery-powered; however, this technology presents several limitations. These include restricted flight time and range, prolonged charging durations, and the considerable weight of the battery itself, which consequently limits payload and diminishes operational efficiency. Conversely, hydrogen drones, a more recent development, offer distinct advantages. Although they entail a higher initial investment compared to conventional battery-powered models, their superior energy density enables substantially extended flight times, rapid refueling, and enhanced payload capacity.
A Korean SME having advanced cryogenic liquid hydrogen storage technology has developed liquid hydrogen power pack for UAVs. By replacing heavy batteries with cryogenic hydrogen fuel, the system triples flight time and enables missions that were previously impossible due to energy constraints.
The modular system includes a 5-12 L vacuum-insulated tank, a PEMFC (proton exchange membrane fuel cell), and a flight control interface optimized for hybrid integration. The system has been field-tested in wildfire monitoring, coastal surveillance, and infrastructure inspection. Its scalability makes it suitable for both commercial and defense-grade UAV platforms.
The Korean company is seeking European partners for joint deployment, licensing, or localisation under commercial agreement with technical assistance. - Advantages and Innovations
-
• Extended Endurance: Achieves over 5 hours of continuous flight compared to 60–90 minutes for battery drones.
• Ultra-Lightweight Design: Uses a custom-designed 5–12 L cryogenic tank and high-efficiency FC module, optimized for aerial mobility.
• Fast Refueling: LH₂ refueling completes in minutes, avoiding long charging cycles of batteries.
• Green and Quiet: Zero emissions with reduced acoustic footprint; ideal for environmental monitoring, border patrol, and logistics.
• Use Cases: Operated in coastal surveillance projects and wildfire detection trials in Korea. Selected for deployment in upcoming defense UAV platforms.
• Compatible with Various Airframes: Power pack can be adapted to quadcopter, hexacopter, and fixed-wing UAVs. - Stage of Development
- Already on the market
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 13: Climate Action
- IPR status
- IPR granted
- IPR notes
- Registered in Korea
Partner Sought
- Expected Role of a Partner
- European companies in the drone industry are interested in joint deployment, licensing, or localisation under commercial agreement with technical assistance.
- Type and Size of Partner
- SME 50 - 249
- Big company
- Type of partnership
- Commercial agreement with technical assistance
Dissemination
- Technology keywords
- 02006005 - Construction maintenance and monitoring methods & equipment
- 10002008 - Measurement and Detection of Pollution
- 01003012 - Imaging, Image Processing, Pattern Recognition
- 04001006 - Transport and storage of hydrogen
- Market keywords
- 09008004 - Other utilities and related firms
- 09007004 - Engineering and consulting services related to construction
- 06011 - Energy for Transport
- 09003007 - Other services (not elsewhere classified)
- 09007005 - Facility management companies
- Targeted countries
- All countries
