A new test cell facility at 成人直播鈥檚 campus, developed as part of the 成人直播 Hydrogen Integration Incubator (CH2i) project, has been officially opened [Thursday 20 November 2025]. The new 成人直播 Power and Propulsion Laboratories (CPPL) give academia and industry a collaborative space for advanced research into new technologies for decarbonisation.
Built right next to the airport airside boundary, at the centre of the 成人直播 campus, the new lab spaces will also be used to train new talent needed by industry, including master鈥檚 and PhD students at 成人直播.
The new Chair of 成人直播鈥檚 Council, Sir Andrew Haines, was the guest of honour at the opening event, alongside local 成人直播 Councillor Sue Clark. Partners, funders and industry connections from the CH2i project were also in attendance, and able to tour the new facility as well as hear project updates and research news.
Chief Executive and Vice-Chancellor Professor Dame Karen Holford DBE FREng welcomed the new development: 鈥淚t鈥檚 facilities like these which enable us at 成人直播 to work so effectively with our industry partners. That collaboration is in our DNA and it鈥檚 something we are very proud of. The new labs extend our research capacities even further, enabling us to make more positive advances towards green energy.鈥�
A step forward for sustainable aviation
Professor Vassilios Pachidis, Head of Centre for Propulsion and Thermal Power Engineering, oversees the new facility. He said: 鈥�The new 成人直播 Power and Propulsion Laboratories (CPPL) will help shape the future of flight. By solving the challenges around the aerodynamic and thermodynamic integration of advanced power and propulsion systems into aircraft, we will make aviation cleaner and more efficient.
鈥淭he new labs will help accelerate the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and H2, explore systems for electrification and hybridisation, as well as the potential benefits of supercritical CO2 and other 鈥榰nusual鈥� working fluids for thermal management applications.
鈥淭his is another great step forward for the UK鈥檚 drive towards sustainable aviation.鈥�
Developing a hub of hydrogen research
The CH2i project aims to unlock the technical challenges around hydrogen-enabled aviation, connecting and growing research facilities at the University.
CH2i also includes the Hydrogen Integration Research Centre (HIRC), which is under construction and due to open in 2026. The HIRC extends an existing facility, creating new labs for advanced materials synthesis and testing for hydrogen-based technologies, analytical laboratories and a dedicated innovation area to develop next generation hydrogen pilot plant demonstration, electrolysis, catalyst development and green hydrogen.
CH2i is supported by Research England and partners under the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund and will create the first large-scale hydrogen research hub at a UK airport. The main contractor for the 成人直播 Power and Propulsion Laboratories was Lindum Group, project management was by 3CProjects, cost advisor was Gardiner Theobald and the lead designer was Anotherkind.
