Berlin -- The sky is the limit. This English expression expresses in a figurative sense that there is nothing that prevents someone or something from being very successful. Speaking of which, is the sky the future of low-CO₂ mobility and transport? The HyAirLogic LaB (Hydrogen Air Logistics Laboratory Berlin) real-world laboratory is working on it. The developers from science and practice will present the project to test hydrogen-powered heavy-duty drones on Thursday and Friday of this week at the first science and transfer festival for climate and health "Transferale" in Berlin.

Cargo drone takes off

A research team from the Berlin School of Economics and Law (HWR Berlin), together with the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing and NEX Aero GmbH, is developing and testing hydrogen-powered cargo drones that are to be used in the Berlin-Brandenburg metropolitan region. The unmanned aerial vehicle is designed to be able to transport loads of up to 200 kilograms. A model of the prototype can be seen on September 26 and 27, 2024 at the science and transfer festival for climate and health "Transferale" in Berlin. Prof. Dr. Hannes Kübel (Professor of Digital Entrepreneurship), doctoral student Falko Carl (Startup Incubator Berlin, the start-up center of the HWR Berlin) and research assistant Sarah Ben Bernou will present the HyAirLogic LaB and be available as discussion partners on the urban logistics of tomorrow.

Rising CO₂ emissions require sustainable solutions

The Berlin-Brandenburg metropolitan region is facing the urgent challenge of bringing about a permanent turnaround for the mobility and logistics sector. Between 2004 and 2019, the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emitted by commercial passenger and cargo aviation increased by more than a third, reaching over 900 million tons by 2019, which corresponds to around three percent of global CO₂ emissions. In addition, the absolute CO₂ emissions from road freight transport in Germany increased by 23 percent between 1995 and 2021, despite technical improvements.

Development of innovative solutions in the HyAirLogic LaB

The project is about nothing less than the sustainable transformation of
regional aviation, in this case especially air freight. In a next step, the HyAirLogic LaB real-world laboratory will provide a platform for realistic testing of H2-powered eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft), which can initially transport freight and later also people. This technology has the potential to replace existing fossil aviation fuels such as kerosene as well as transition technologies such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). This can significantly reduce CO₂ emissions and noise pollution by relieving road traffic in urban areas such as Berlin. In addition to the technical challenges, legal and logistical aspects as well as questions of technology acceptance and possible business models must also be considered. This is why the scientists and practical partners are working together, for example, with representatives from Berlin Brandenburg Airport and the new research and industrial park for urban technologies on the site of the former Tegel Airport, The Urban Tech Republic.

Sustainable air logistics and regional innovation

The successful implementation of the project will increase the sustainability and efficiency of urban and regional freight transport and contribute to the further development of Berlin and Brandenburg as a regional innovation location. The scientists, practitioners and civil society actors are jointly developing and testing solutions for sustainable regional air logistics and economically viable business models. Questions about certification and the legal framework are also being examined. As part of the project, infrastructure and logistics concepts are being drawn up and a plan for how general acceptance for the use of transport drones can be achieved.

The sky is the limit - in the application-oriented HyAirLogic LaB, the sky becomes the new dimension of low-CO₂ transport in the Berlin-Brandenburg region.

Berlin School of Economics and Law

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