DOE Honors Eta Space for Advancements in Liquid Hydrogen Fueling System Development
Eta Space, a leading provider of Cryogenic Fluid Management (CFM) technology, has won a Department of Energy award to develop liquid hydrogen fueling infrastructure. The company, founded in 2019 by former NASA and contractor personnel with over 130 years of combined experience in CFM, specializes in applying advanced cryogenic systems to solve problems in the new space field and the future hydrogen energy economy.
The Low Loss LH2 Servicing system developed by Eta Space is set to revolutionize fueling infrastructure for heavy vehicles, small aircraft, ships, and trains. This system focuses on ultra-efficient cryogenic propellant management, enabling sustainable and practical use of liquid hydrogen (LH2) as a clean fuel for various heavy transport modalities.
Liquid hydrogen, despite its challenges in storage and transfer due to its super cold temperature (-423 degrees) and small size, is seen as an obvious choice as a replacement for hydrocarbon fuels in various applications. Hydrogen, as a clean fuel, produces only water as a byproduct, making it an attractive option for the clean energy transition on Earth.
The goal is for most products being shipped in the United States to use clean hydrogen as fuel by 2035. To achieve this, Eta Space plans to collaborate with manufacturers and energy companies to integrate their zero-loss liquid hydrogen storage and transfer technology into the transportation market.
The key innovations in Eta Space's Low Loss Liquid Hydrogen Servicing system include advanced cryogenic handling techniques that reduce fuel loss significantly compared to current standards. By addressing issues such as hydrogen boil-off and rapid vaporization, the system supports fueling infrastructure that can reliably serve heavy-duty vehicles, aircraft, maritime vessels, and rail trains, which traditionally have faced challenges with hydrogen storage and fueling due to its cryogenic nature.
Bill Notardonato, the Chief Executive of Eta Space, stated that liquid hydrogen is an obvious choice as a replacement for hydrocarbon fuels in various applications, but there are challenges with producing, storing, and transferring the fuel. Eta Space's system aims to overcome these challenges, providing a practical, scalable, and sustainable fueling solution by 2035.
With this development, Eta Space's Low Loss Liquid Hydrogen Servicing system aims to enable efficient and low-loss cryogenic liquid hydrogen storage and transfer systems, infrastructure suitable for diverse heavy transport modes, and reduced operational costs and environmental impact through sustainable fuel technology derived from advanced space-grade cryogenics. This positions Eta Space’s system as a critical enabler for the hydrogen economy’s growth in heavy transport by providing a practical, scalable, and sustainable fueling solution by 2035.
[1] Source: Eta Space press release, dated [insert date]
- The advancements in Eta Space's Low Loss Liquid Hydrogen Servicing system are driven by science and environmental-science, with a focus on sustainable energy solutions, particularly for heavy transport modalities.
- With the commitment to reduce fuel loss significantly, Eta Space's innovative cryogenic handling techniques aim to contribute to the energy transition towards renewable-energy and clean energy, generating less carbon emissions.
- In the finance sector, Eta Space's collaboration with industry partners is expected to accelerate the adoption of clean hydrogen as fuel in various applications, thereby supporting the global economy's transition towards a more sustainable future.
- The successful implementation of Eta Space's Low Loss Liquid Hydrogen Servicing system is expected to have a positive impact on the environment, supporting climate-change mitigation efforts and positioning the industry for a more resilient and sustainable future.
