5th Consortium Meeting

✈️ The EFACA Consortium met in Madrid, Spain, hosted by our partner Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM). This meeting, held on 15th and 16th October 2025, provided a valuable opportunity for partners to come together, exchange on progress and next steps towards cleaner and more sustainable aviation.

The meeting brought together partners and stakeholders to discuss the latest advancements in sustainable aviation technologies. The partners reviewed experimental progress across several critical work packages, including hydrogen fuel cell systems, hybrid gearboxes, and emissions reduction strategies.

EFACA partners reported steady progress on the hybrid gearbox integrating gas turbines and electric machines, with parts manufacturing scheduled from November 2025 (M35) to January 2026 (M37). Hydrogen fuel cells advanced on stack performance, battery hybridisation, and water/heat management, with initial safety and certification work in place. In addition, crucially, preparations are underway to begin experimental testing of hydrogen liquefaction. The consortium also refined its 2050 climate-neutral aviation roadmap (in D6.3), structured by battery type.

Throughout the meeting, it became clear that strong technical collaboration and early alignment on system integration are essential to meeting the project’s ambitious goals. The partners demonstrated a shared commitment to advancing innovative, low-emission propulsion solutions, reinforcing EFACA’s contribution to the decarbonisation of the aviation sector.

The meeting concluded with a project update, reinforcement of deliverables and milestones management, and coordination of upcoming activities.