Hogreen Air, a specialized drone solution provider, announced on the 3rd that it has developed a Hydrogen Fuel Cell Module (FCPM) and is set to enter the drone market.

The company is currently in the process of obtaining KC certification for its 2.4 kW FCPM. The FCPM utilizes liquid hydrogen to generate high-output power in a lightweight air-cooled system.

Hogreen Air plans to unveil the first hydrogen fuel cell for drones in the domestic market. Drones equipped with the hydrogen fuel cell can secure over 2 hours of flight time based on a weight of 21 kg. This allows for a significantly longer endurance compared to lithium-ion batteries, which account for over 99% of industrial drones, providing at least four times the flight duration. The company expects various drone applications that were constrained by battery capacity limitations to become feasible.

In a move to enhance cooperation in the commercial liquid hydrogen fuel cell drone sector, Hogreen Air has signed a distribution agreement with Intelligent Energy (IE), a UK-based global engineering company with over 30 years of expertise in hydrogen fuel cell development. IE specializes in developing, manufacturing, and selling world-class polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells applicable to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as well as automobiles and recreational vehicles. Headquartered in Loughborough, UK, IE operates offices and official agencies in the United States, Japan, Korea, China, and other locations.

Lee Joo-bi, Chief Commercial Officer at IE, expressed excitement about the collaboration, stating, "Fuel cells are a unique solution for commercial drone operators who require extended flight times," and expressed pleasure in establishing a partnership with Hogreen Air.

In response to the agreement, Hogreen Air plans to expand the hydrogen ecosystem by collaborating with domestic drone companies.

CEO Hong Seong-ho emphasized the potential advancements in the commercial drone market with the application of FCPM, stating, "We anticipate significant progress in the commercial drone market as the endurance time increases dramatically with the application of FCPM," and expressed confidence in addressing the challenges faced by domestic drone companies limited by short flight times using hydrogen fuel cells.

The development and introduction of hydrogen fuel cell technology in the drone market align with the broader goal of promoting clean energy solutions and addressing the limitations of traditional battery technologies.