Can you tell us a bit about your role within the COCOLIH₂T project and what Work Package 2 focuses on?
Unified International’s main contribution to COCOLIH₂T has been in Work Package 2, where we provide an end-user perspective. In the Netherlands, through our subsidiary Conscious Aerospace, we are developing a hydrogen powertrain and storage system that can be retrofitted into regional aircraft. This means we could be a potential end-user of the COCOLIH₂T tank system, and we can directly apply the lessons learned from this project.
Within WP2, our work has centered on defining requirements from an end-user standpoint and supporting interface definition and the requirements from fuel cell system. Together with ATR, we have also contributed end-user input to other work packages throughout the course of COCOLIH₂T.
What has been one of the most interesting or unexpected challenges so far, and how did you and/or your team approached it?
For Unified, the conformal shape is promising and important as it optimises the tank space envelope in the fuselage, leaving more room for payload. This is also one of the most interesting challenges in COCOLIH2T in general: designing a conformal composite tank that meets aviation standards. It required balancing technical innovation with strict safety and certification demands. The COCOLIH2T team approached this by working closely with consortium partners, openly sharing expertise, and iterating on designs until we found practical, feasible solutions.
What are some key lessons or takeaways you’ve gained from working on COCOLIH2T?
A key takeaway is the unique set of design and manufacturing challenges that come with creating a conformal tank. Developing a fully composite conformal structure is far from straightforward, and we gained valuable insights into the difficulties of manufacturing such shapes. For our technology roadmap at Unified / Conscious, we would need to assess the benefits against the drawback and risks to assess when conformal tanks become an (economically and technically) viable solution .
Another important lesson has been the selection and integration of appropriate gauging systems for hydrogen applications in aviation, which also applies to more traditional tank shapes and materials. Both of these areas will continue to shape our work moving forward.
Looking ahead, how do you think this project could shape future research or industry practices?
COCOLIH₂T provides deep insight into both the practical challenges and the potential advantages of building an aviation-ready conformal composite hydrogen tank. The technical lessons learned here lay the foundation for continued development in follow-up projects.
For us, the findings are directly relevant to our national hydrogen aviation program, led by Conscious Aerospace, and will inform our future steps.
If you could describe the COCOLIH₂T project in three words, what would they be — and why?
Collaborative, ambitious, practical.
- Collaborative, because the cooperation within the consortium has been excellent and highly constructive.
- Ambitious, because of the ambitious scope, planning, and project goals, which are extremely relevant to hydrogen powered aircraft.
- Practical, because the solutions found together are hands-on, results-oriented, and grounded in real-world application.