A lightweight, hydrogen-powered drone capable of monitoring rivers and lakes, detecting pollution, and inspecting water infrastructure—that is the concept researchers from Opole, Wrocław, and Kraków are working to bring to life. Prof. Andrzej Białowiec is also involved in the project, focusing on developing structural materials using recycled raw materials recycled materials.
ASVH2 is a project focused on developing an unmanned surface vessel (USV) with a hybrid hydrogen-electric propulsion system. The project was initiated by Opole University of Technology, with Wrocław University of Science and Technology, AGH University of Krakow, and Łukasiewicz – PORT among its partners. The Lower Silesian Hydrogen Valley, an association bringing together representatives from academia and industry to advance the hydrogen economy, is also involved in the initiative. A prototype of the drone has already been developed at Opole University of Technology.
A Floating Laboratory Powered by Hydrogen
ASVH2 is designed to be a small, twin-hulled drone equipped with instruments for environmental research. The drone will be able to carry out planned tasks autonomously or operate under the supervision of a human operator. The data it collects will be used to assess water quality and map the topography of riverbeds and lake bottoms, among other applications.
“Such a drone could monitor environmental conditions, collect samples, and use various sensors. Potential users could include, for example, organizations responsible for managing hydraulic infrastructure along the Oder River,” says Prof. Andrzej Białowiec.
The drone’s applications could extend beyond environmental research. It could also support the monitoring of port facilities and offshore wind farms.
One of ASVH2’s distinguishing features will be its hybrid power system. Electricity will be generated by a hydrogen fuel cell, while an additional energy storage system will meet short-term demands for higher power output.
“Lithium-ion batteries are heavy. We still need a battery in a hydrogen-powered system, but it can be smaller. This allows us to reduce the drone’s weight. And when we use hydrogen in a fuel cell, the reaction produces water rather than exhaust emissions,” explains the researcher.
Recycled Composite Materials
Prof. Andrzej Białowiec leads the Biomaterials Engineering and Environmental Technologies Research Group at the Materials Science & Engineering Center at Łukasiewicz – PORT. His team focuses on areas including biomass and waste processing, environmental technologies, and solutions that support the circular economy. In the proposed project, the team plans to apply this expertise to developing structural materials for the drone. Researchers at Łukasiewicz – PORT aim to determine whether conventional composites can be replaced with alternatives incorporating waste-derived materials without compromising their mechanical properties.
“Today, boats are typically built using fiberglass-reinforced polyester composites, in which glass fibers provide structural reinforcement. However, we can explore alternative fibers that offer comparable strength while allowing us to incorporate waste materials, potentially including biomass,” says Prof. Białowiec.
The team plans to select suitable materials, develop composite formulations, and test their mechanical strength Another important consideration will be the possibility of recovering materials at the end of the vessel’s service life.
“The biggest challenge in recycling fiberglass-reinforced polyester composites is their complex structure. How do we separate their individual components? We also want to explore ways to make this process cost-effective and environmentally safe,” explains the researcher.
The materials developed through this process could also be used in the future for other structures requiring low weight and high strength.
Hydrogen: The Fuel of the Future?
Although hydrogen propulsion eliminates exhaust emissions during operation, how the hydrogen itself is produced remains a significant challenge.
“Hydrogen could become the fuel of the future if we can significantly reduce its production costs,” emphasizes Prof. Białowiec.
Today, most hydrogen is produced from natural gas. An alternative is water electrolysis powered by renewable energy, but this process remains expensive. The researcher points to another possibility: producing hydrogen from biomass and suitably processed waste through gasification, a thermochemical process that converts these materials into a gas from which hydrogen can then be extracted.
“Biomass is abundant, and so is municipal waste. By gasifying these materials, we could produce hydrogen at a significantly lower cost than hydrogen generated using renewable energy,” explains Prof. Andrzej Białowiec.
