Hydrogen is gaining traction in very different transportation applications: from unmanned aircraft to cutting-edge submarines, with the automotive industry realigning its efforts. In Spain, two recent milestones have put the spotlight on this technology: a drone that flies with a fuel cell and a submarine with a system that generates hydrogen on board.
At the same time, Car manufacturers recalibrate strategiesThere are cuts to some fuel cell programs, but also projects that are moving forward and new models are on the way. All of this is happening in a European context that is loosening regulatory constraints so that public funding can accelerate decarbonization.
Spanish milestone in air mobility: a drone operates with a fuel cell
A team from the Sevilla University, led by Carlos Bordons Alba (Systems Engineering and Automation) and Sergio Esteban Roncero (Aerospace Engineering), with the researcher Javier Quintana Hernández, has achieved integrating a hydrogen fuel cell into an unmanned aircraftThe chosen platform was a commercial MUGIN 350, an ideal test bench for validating the propulsion under real-life conditions.
The propellant is based on a hybrid architecture: The fuel cell powered by renewable hydrogen works in conjunction with lithium-ion batteries, a scheme that allows stability of power and flexible energy management during flight.
To store the gas, a conformable hydrogen tank Custom-designed by Go Ahead Solutions, solving a key challenge of integration into compact airframes without unduly compromising aerodynamics or weight.
The fuel is produced by solar-powered electrolysis, so the propulsion system only emits water vapor. After bench tests with emulated mission profiles, the project is in flight test phase to validate performance in operational scenarios.
This research aligns with the project U5-Space, which aims to deploy U-Space services and manage drone traffic in Europe safely and sustainably. It is powered by Zelenza and funded by the CDTI with Next Generation EU funds, with a consortium involving Grupo Amper, GEOAI, Fundetel, DIT ETSIT UPM, Cedint-UPM and the US itself.
At the university, the line is integrated into the ENGREEN Unit of Excellence, which brings together specialists in energy transition, electrification and renewables, and has had the student involvement and the technical staff (such as Álvaro Gomar, César Morales and workshop foreman Pablo Máiz) for assembly and integration. The progress also fits with the objectives of REGREENH2 of the Ministry of Science and Innovation.
From sea to road: hydrogen for sailing and driving
In the naval field, the S-81 Isaac Peral submarine (S-80 Plus class) incorporates a unique AIP system in the world, called BEST (Bio-Ethanol Stealth Technology)Instead of storing gas, the vessel generates hydrogen on board from bioethanol using a chemical reformer.
That hydrogen, combined with liquid oxygen (LOX) stored in fuel cells powers the fuel cells, which produce electricity to power the engine and recharge batteries while submerged. The result is greater submerged autonomy (on the order of 20–28 days) and a very low thermal acoustic signature, key in stealth missions.
The cycle produces mostly CO₂ and water, which are expelled dissolved in the sea as carbonated water, minimizing footprint and detectability. Furthermore, by not carrying compressed or liquid hydrogen, risks are reduced logistics and security on board.
The BEST has been developed by Navantia and Abengoa, supported by Hynergreen technology from the University of Buenos Aires for ethanol processing. The S-81 was initially delivered without the AIP module installed, and planning calls for its incorporation during the first major technical stop (window 2029–2030), while operating with its diesel-electric plant and batteries.
- Autonomy and stealth: silent electric propulsion and weeks without surfacing.
- Safety: No high-pressure H₂ tanks; on-site production on demand.
- Operational sustainability: managed by-products with a low detectable footprint.
On the road, the panorama is more heterogeneous. Stellantis has discontinued its fuel cell program for passenger cars and commercial vehicles, considering it a niche segment without viability medium-term economic growth. Its R&D team is pivoting toward hybrids and traditional BEVs, even shelving the imminent launch of hydrogen vans.
In the face of this retreat, BMW defends hydrogen as strategic option to reduce dependence on batteries and materials controlled by China, and is working on a fuel cell SUV with a market target of the end of the decade. In parallel, other brands are maintaining projects for heavy-duty transport, where the technology could be a better fit due to usage cycles and dedicated infrastructure.
Commercial deployment remains conditioned by the shortage of hydrogen stations and the complexity of refueling (cryogenic storage, compression, and costs). Cases such as the closure of stations in Germany or the dissatisfaction of some users in the US reveal that the network is not ready for the general public worldwide.
Still, some manufacturers continue to develop. Hyundai began its commitment with the ix35 Fuel Cell and consolidated it with NEXO, in addition to conceptual proposals such as NVision 74 and more familiar exercises such as INITIAL. Its next NEXO proposes higher autonomies and refueling in minutes, although the real challenge lies in the availability and cost of renewable hydrogen and the necessary infrastructure.
From the political sphere, the EU has launched the Clean Industrial Deal and the aid framework CISAF, which increases flexibility, combines lines and allows support of up to 200 million per project. In Spain, the sector (AeH2) demands more agile instruments, aid to cover OPEX and demand-stimulating mechanisms to facilitate faster adoption of initiatives such as the Seville drone or industrial ecosystems.
The vision shown by these advances is clear: Hydrogen progresses where it provides differential value (range, stealth, stopping times, and weight), while the light-vehicle market continues to find its place, awaiting more stations and more competitive costs. With national research driving forward in avionics and defense, and with new European funding underway, the pieces are in place for Spain to play a relevant role in the next wave of hydrogen mobility.