Intelligent Energy has unveiled a new hydrogen fuel cell system for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). The system, with a power output of 120 kilowatts, was developed for heavy fixed-wing drones. Simultaneously, the company reports the largest commercial order to date in the UAV segment. Intelligent Energy does not disclose details about the order.
The system is designated IE-Flight 120 and is part of the company's aviation product line. It aims to bridge the gap between smaller systems and future high-performance applications. According to the company, this also includes developments for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) and regional aircraft.
System for Payloads up to 750 Kilograms
The new system targets drones with payloads between 150 and 750 kilograms. These are used, among other things, for surveillance, defense, security, and logistics tasks. Intelligent Energy is responding to increasing demand for UAVs with greater range and longer operational duration.
According to the company, fuel cells enable flight times three to five times longer than battery-electric systems, while only producing water vapor emissions. Compared to combustion engines, the company cites lower noise and vibration levels as well as reduced maintenance requirements. They also have a lower thermal signature, making them particularly suitable for surveillance, defense, and security missions.
Promotion and Expansion of Development
In 2026, Intelligent Energy received £17 million (approximately €20 million) from the HEIGHTS program of the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI). The company aims to accelerate the development of high-performance fuel cell systems for aviation. Additionally, Intelligent Energy has established a test center for high-power fuel cells in Chelveston (Northamptonshire).
“The UAV market is moving rapidly towards larger aircraft that need to fly further, carry heavier payloads and stay airborne for much longer. That's where hydrogen fuel cells have a clear advantage,” says Greg Harris, Chief Commercial Officer of Intelligent Energy. “Our new fixed-wing power system demonstrates how our fuel cell technology can scale to an entirely new class of aircraft. It builds on the same platform we're developing for larger aircraft and shows how hydrogen can unlock new capability across both the UAV and aerospace sectors.”
Together with a record order for their IE-SOAR technology, this introduction underscores a clear trend in the market. Operators are increasingly relying on hydrogen propulsion to achieve longer operational times, higher payloads, and improved operational capabilities.
The company sees the development in the context of growing government investments. According to its own statements, the British government plans to invest around £5 billion (approximately €5.9 billion) in drones and autonomous systems. Intelligent Energy views this as support for the expansion of the domestic UAV sector.
About Intelligent Energy
Intelligent Energy (IE) manufactures hydrogen fuel cells for the aerospace, data centre, drone, eVTOL, material handling and microgrid markets. Based in the UK, IE is privately owned and holds 500 patents, with a product range scaling from <1kW to 1MW. With 25 years of manufacturing experience, Intelligent Energy focuses on markets where mass, efficiency and robustness are key factors.
Intelligent Energy
