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Researchers at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) demonstrated hydrogen fuel cell propulsion for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) via a hardware-in-the-loop simulation. The H2UAV, a hybrid fixed-wing, vertical takeoff and landing UAV, weighs under 35 kg and can carry a 5 kg payload with a flight time exceeding 10 hours.

The project, funded by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), aims to develop a hydrogen economy in South Africa by 2050. The CSIR envisions local manufacturing to decarbonize the transport sector, with significant demand expected for hybrid UAVs across various sectors. The CSIR is also collaborating with Hydrogen SA on hydrogen generation technologies.