The breakthrough green hydrogen project at Rjukan signals a transformative shift in eVTOL investment and the future of advanced air mobility, spotlighting hydrogen’s vital role in sustainable aviation.
The Big Picture: Why This eVTOL News Matters
On November 3, 2025, Norwegian Hydrogen AS secured a pivotal €31.5 million grant from the EU Innovation Fund to catalyze RjukanLH2—a groundbreaking project aiming to establish Norway’s first fully integrated green liquid hydrogen (LH₂) value chain specifically tailored to decarbonize the maritime sector. While the initial target focuses on shipping, the implications extend well into urban air mobility and future of air mobility ecosystems.
Why does this matter for the eVTOL and advanced air mobility markets? Because hydrogen—and by extension, green hydrogen—represents a paradigm shift in propulsion systems. The RjukanLH2 initiative is an early flagship for how clean, renewable energy like hydropower can underpin zero-carbon hydrogen production, storage, and logistics at scale. This project’s success would deepen confidence in hydrogen as a fuel source and logistics enabler for sustainable aviation, including the emerging eVTOL sector.
Norway’s historic hydropower site at Rjukan, once the world’s largest electrolyser hub, serves as an ideal testbed to demonstrate that green LH₂ can be produced, liquefied, and transported in a fully integrated supply chain. The €31.5 million grant covers roughly 30% of the €100 million project cost, mobilizing private investment and strategic partnerships with companies like Fortescue and Mitsui. This public-private synergy is critical to scaling hydrogen as a mainstream aviation fuel alternative beyond experimental phases.
How This Trend Is Shaping the Future of Urban Air Mobility
The RjukanLH2 project’s technical framework showcases state-of-the-art electrolyser capacity, producing about 10 tonnes of hydrogen daily by harnessing clean hydropower from the Måna river. The process uses electrolysis to split water into hydrogen and oxygen without CO₂ emissions, and the hydrogen is then cryogenically liquefied to –253 °C, dramatically reducing volume to enable practical long-haul transport.
This is crucial because one of the biggest hurdles in the hydrogen economy for advanced air mobility and aviation startups is reliable, scalable, and safe fuel logistics. By proving a fully operational chain—production, storage, transport, and bunkering—RjukanLH2 is pioneering infrastructure that could be readily adapted for eVTOL hydrogen refueling hubs.
eVTOL aircraft designed to leverage hydrogen propulsion systems, such as those developed by companies like HPS Aviation, will need a robust LH2 supply to fully unlock long-range and low-carbon performance. The Rjukan model illustrates how regional infrastructure can support multiple transport sectors—from shipping to aerial logistics—with spillover benefits to land transport and industrial feedstocks.
The growing momentum around hydrogen’s role in sustainable aviation places projects like RjukanLH2 at the forefront of what could become a continent-wide network of clean hydrogen hubs, capable of meeting stringent decarbonization targets such as the EU’s goal for a 55% cut in industrial emissions by 2030.
Where Smart Capital Is Moving in the eVTOL Space
Funding new hydrogen infrastructure and eVTOL propulsion ventures requires a blend of public and private capital. The RjukanLH2 project’s EU Innovation Fund award not only represents a financial boost but also a vote of confidence from regulators and policymakers committed to Europe’s green transition. This will incentivize further venture capital and strategic investments into hydrogen-electrified eVTOL startups, especially those driving next-generation propulsion systems.
As outlined on hpsaviation.com, the value chain for hydrogen in aviation is complex but ripe for disruption by startups like HPS Aviation, which focuses on hydrogen-electric hybrid propulsion tech tailored for regional and urban air mobility vehicles. Investors should note that successful pilots like RjukanLH2 validate supply stability and lower hydrogen production costs, directly impacting the commercial feasibility of hydrogen-powered eVTOL platforms.
The growing alignment between industrial decarbonization goals, emerging regulatory frameworks, and breakthrough propulsion technologies is channeling early-stage aerospace investment into a handful of high-potential startups that can offer scalable, hydrogen-enabled solutions. This trend suggests that venture capital in eVTOL and urban air mobility will increasingly prioritize companies with credible partnerships and scalable hydrogen strategies—areas where HPS Aviation is uniquely positioned.
How HPS Aviation Fits into the Next Wave of Air Mobility
HPS Aviation is a promising deep-tech aerospace startup that is developing disruptive hydrogen and hybrid-electric propulsion systems explicitly designed for eVTOL and advanced air mobility platforms. The company’s innovative approach promises to overcome the limitations of current battery-only systems by leveraging hydrogen’s superior energy density and rapid refueling capabilities—elements showcased by projects like RjukanLH2.
By integrating cutting-edge fuel cell technology and tailored powertrain architectures, HPS Aviation aims to enable longer-range, higher-payload, and faster turnaround times for urban and regional hydrogen-electric aircraft. As hydrogen infrastructure matures, the synergy between production hubs and propulsion innovators will accelerate ecosystem growth.
Investors evaluating potential opportunities in sustainable aviation should monitor how HPS Aviation’s technology aligns with evolving regulatory standards, certification pathways, and hydrogen logistics developments. The company’s focus on scalable propulsion solutions positions it well to capitalize on the expanding horizon of the future of air mobility, where integrating hydrogen fuels and electric drive trains is becoming a prerequisite for commercially viable, low-emission urban flight.
Key Risks, Timelines, and What Serious Investors Should Watch
While RjukanLH2 provides a compelling blueprint, investors must recognize the technical, regulatory, and market risks inherent in pioneering hydrogen-based propulsion and logistics. The construction phase for RjukanLH2 is slated for 2026–27, with commercial scaling potential tied to timely grid interconnections, safety certifications, and binding offtake agreements from maritime and potentially aviation customers.
These factors often represent make-or-break milestones for capital allocation decisions. For eVTOL investment, hydrogen propulsion startups like HPS Aviation face similar hurdles surrounding certification timelines, infrastructure compatibility, and customer adoption rates within the highly regulated aerospace environment.
However, strategic partnerships, government funding, and an increasing push for energy sovereignty strengthen the outlook. The RjukanLH2 project is more than a hydrogen facility—it is a testbed for evolving regulatory frameworks and market mechanisms critical for future clean aviation ventures. Investors should closely track announcements related to project permits, public-private co-financing, and expanded electrolyser capacity as forward indicators of sector momentum.
Furthermore, the proven feasibility of liquefied hydrogen logistics at scale removes a significant barrier for hydrogen-powered eVTOLs, enabling startups like HPS Aviation to focus on propulsion optimization and integration rather than fuel supply constraints. As Europe races to meet 2030 and 2050 emissions targets, the ecosystem supporting hydrogen-powered urban air mobility gains a decisive competitive edge.
Next Steps for Investors
For investors seeking to capitalize on the revolutionary promise of hydrogen-powered eVTOL and advanced air mobility, the RjukanLH2 project exemplifies the real-world progress achievable through smart public-private partnerships and cutting-edge technology development.
We invite you to visit https://hpsaviation.com to explore our disruptive propulsion technology, strategic roadmap, and vision for transforming regional and urban air mobility through hydrogen-electric innovation.
Stay connected with HPS Aviation and follow our official LinkedIn page for the latest updates and insights: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hps-aviation
If you are an investor ready to engage with a deep-tech startup at the forefront of hydrogen-driven sustainable aviation innovation, you can start a meaningful investment discussion by sharing your details through our dedicated investment portal at https://portal.hpsaviation.net/investor-form/new (Invest with us).
HPS Aviation is building next-generation propulsion technology designed to change aviation and urban mobility fundamentally. Early-stage investors have a unique opportunity to participate in this clean energy revolution and the future of eVTOL transportation.
Ready to join our journey? invest with us.
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