Blueflite moves ahead on hydrogen storage for UAVs

Blueflite in Australia has partnered with the government of the Northern Territory to address the growing global demand for safe and reliable storage of hydrogen fuels for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The project, which will also see Blueflite open its Darwin-based premises, seeks to develop a lightweight, high-pressure, hydrogen vessel (tank) using Advanced Fiber Placement (AFP) technology pitched squarely at the underserved, long-range, UAV sector. The collaboration will see Blueflite leverage Charles Darwin University’s (CDU) innovative additive manufacturing capabilities, including the use of an industrial robot with advanced Automated Carbon Fiber Placement (AFP) capabilities. The AFP robot at CDU is the only one of its kind in Australia and offers a significant improvement over traditional methods of composite vessel manufacture. Long-range UAVs play a crucial role in numerous sectors, including medical, agricultural, services and mining industries – particularly in geographically isolated or vast regions such as the NT. In the medical field, they facilitate quick and efficient transport of medical supplies, vaccines, and even emergency medical services to remote areas, improving healthcare accessibility. In agriculture, UAVs can transform crop monitoring, precision agriculture, and pest control, leading to increased efficiency and sustainable farming practices. Such is the growth trend in drone use that according to a recent Airservices Australia report, the number of drone flights (single take-off and landing) will increase to approximately 60.4 million by 2043 – up from 1.5 million in 2024. This increase is driven primarily by drones being used for goods deliveries – an industry that is projected to grow exponentially over the next 20 years. In all, the US$30 billion global drone market – of which long-range drones represent almost a quarter of the market – is set to grow to $223 billion by 2033. With increasing demands for long range flights driving interest in new forms of fuel such as hydrogen, Blueflite plans to offer a scalable solution for all manner of UAV applications. The integration of hydrogen fuel cell technology into UAVs has the potential to enhance range and efficiency of craft, as running on hydrogen rather than lithium-ion batteries is expected to increase range by 700 percent. Chief Executive Officer of Blueflite, Frank Noppel said the Northern Territory is the ideal location to develop, test and deploy long-range hydrogen-powered UAVs. “UAVs have the potential to shrink distances, increase services in remote areas and decarbonise last-mile transportation. In conjunction with CDU, H3 Dynamics and support from the Northern Territory Government we will establish a composite hydrogen tank manufacturing capability that does not exist in Australia and integrate it into our proven UAV platform. The long-term goal for Blueflite and our partners in Darwin is to coalesce a range of skills, knowledge and capability to position the NT as a leader in sustainable aviation and manufacturing, with ripple effects across various sectors, industries and the Top End economy,” said Noppel. Working alongside CDU’s Energy Resource Institute, the project will conduct trials for remote site hydrogen generation and filling of the locally manufactured hydrogen storage vessels. These tanks will be integrated into Blueflite’s UAVs, and flight trials will be conducted at the Darwin UAV Flight Test Range. AMGC’s Northern Territory Director, Charmaine Phillips said: “The Northern Territory is ideally positioned to assist Blueflite and its collaborators to succeed, not only do we have the right geographical conditions, but we also have the right support mechanisms and innovation ecosystem. Projects like this really lift our manufacturing industries eyes beyond the horizon and demonstrate our role in the transition to renewable energy.” The project is expected to deliver $9.6 million in additional revenue within five years and create at least seventeen new skilled roles at Blueflite’s new Darwin facility. Blueflite’s project is the tenth business to receive co-investment through the AMEF, which was launched in 2021. The AMEF has spurred manufacturing activity expecting to create up to 180 new jobs and generate up to $94 million for the Territory’s economy within five years. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Kay Rolland at [email protected]