Research Projects

SERENA

Development of zero- emission propulsion systems for general aviation

Sector

Aeronautics

Product/Objective

The SERENA project aims to develop a prototype propulsion system for a General Aviation- category aircraft based on hybrid power technologies (hydrogen-fueled cells, batteries, and super-capacitors).

Project Summary

SERENA contributes to the subject of fuel cells for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) applications to allow air transportation with zero emissions by small and medium-sized air taxis and unmanned aircraft. SERENA will also investigate emerging storage and energy-recovery technologies for energy reuse during flight and take-off, landing, and taxiing. The propulsion system will have a 90% lower climate impact than conventional systems.

Innovation

SERENA will expand the experimental practices for new-generation aircraft at the Grottaglie Airport Test Bed, a strategic infrastructure in Southern Italy. The main innovations and benefits include: the generation of specific knowledge in the strategic high-tech sector of the hydrogen supply chain; an increase in investment; and the creation of highly qualified professionals.

ES Role

ES is contributing numerical simulation to certify the energy storage and distribution system; is developing and verifying a digital twin of the propulsion system; and is developing a decision support system (DSS).

Partners

Distretto tecnologico aerospaziale | Enginsoft Spa | Novotech Srl | Università del Salento – Department of Innovation Engineering

Funding Scheme

Funded by the European Union - NextGenerationEU - Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) - M2C2.3.5

SERENA

Project web site

Duration

32 months

Period

April 2023 – December 2025

Coordinator

Distretto tecnologico aerospaziale - DTA

Reference in EnginSoft

Vito Primavera

Partners Number

4

Project insight

Evaluating and reducing the risk of hydrogen leakage in an aircraft cabin using CFD analysis

by Marco Corti | EnginSoft
Leonardo Lecce | Novotech

Futurities - Spring 2025

The aviation industry's pursuit of sustainability is accelerating the exploration of hydrogen fuel cells as a zero-emission propulsion solution. The SERENA project—driven by DTA, EnginSoft, Novotech, and UniSalento—focuses on integrating hydrogen fuel cells and batteries into general aviation, specifically for the Seagull light aircraft. A key challenge lies in safely managing hydrogen’s high flammability. To address this, the project used CFD simulations to assess the effects of a potential gas leak inside the aircraft cabin. Initial tests with natural ventilation revealed significant combustion risks within seconds. However, by implementing forced ventilation, optimizing airflow geometry, and using fast-response sensors, the team reduced hydrogen concentration to safe levels (<1%) even under continuous leak scenarios. These findings are a critical step toward enabling safe hydrogen-powered flight.

Read the article
Ask the Expert

Contact us!

Contact our R&D team for any information.

Ask for information

Find out more

Some of our competences in research and technology transfer

Research project

DIRECTION

Demonstration of very low energy new buildings

Framework of demonstration and dissemination of very innovative and cost-effective energy efficiency technologies for the achievement of very low energy new buildings

Research project

STAR-EXD

Simulation Technology Aeronautic Research – EXperimental Data

A virtual design environment dedicated to the study of surface hardening (carburizing and nitride hardening) and of welding of alloy steel products.

Research project

SERENA

Development of zero- emission propulsion systems for general aviation

The SERENA project aims to develop a prototype propulsion system for a General Aviation-category aircraft based on hybrid power technologies (hydrogen-fueled cells, batteries, and super-capacitors).