ZeroAvia intensifies UK activity, as it progresses certification of zero emission powertrains

Hydrogen-electric propulsion developer ZeroAvia is advancing its activities across the UK as it awaits certification of its entry-level ZA600 zero-emission powertrain for 10-20 seat aircraft and develops the next programme, the ZA2000, for 40-80 seat commuter planes. The company has just secured a site near Glasgow, Scotland, to develop a manufacturing plant for its new fuel cell systems. It has also announced partnerships with two airlines, East Midlands-based RVL Aviation, to introduce hydrogen-electric powered cargo flights, and Loganair to explore the potential conversion of the Scottish regional carrier’s aircraft to zero emission propulsion. As well, the company has secured UK government funding to help develop and test a liquid hydrogen fuel management system, comprising a lightweight metallic tank design and associated systems for filling, storing and distributing the fuel as hydrogen-electric technology is increasingly applied to larger aircraft.

The ZeroAvia powertrains will use hydrogen in fuel cells to generate electricity, which then drives electric motors, turning the propulsors. The company claims the only by-product is water and that the “climate impact reduction” is around 90%.

After extensive multi-year development, refinement and testing, ZeroAvia has submitted its first 600kW hydrogen-electric ZA600 powertrain to the UK Civil Aviation Authority for certification, to enable both the conversion of existing fossil-fuelled aircraft to zero-emission propulsion and the supply of propulsion systems for novel new craft including air taxis, eVTOLs, rotorcraft and uncrewed aerial vehicles.

Once approved, the company plans to install the new propulsion system in a Cessna Caravan aircraft, and to acquire supplemental type certificates (STCs) to convert similar-sized airframes such as Twin Otters, as it advances development of the larger ZA2000 for aircraft such as the 40-80 seat ATR family of regional turboprops, 20 of which are operated by Loganair.

ZeroAvia has also announced plans to build a manufacturing plant near Glasgow Airport to produce and test advanced high temperature PEM (HTPEM) fuel stacks and supporting systems for its new powertrains.

The facility, to be known as ZeroAvia’s Hydrogen Centre of Excellence, will be located in the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District and is designed to help the company meet almost 3,000 orders by airlines and other industry partners for full engines and components.

ZeroAvia has additionally signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Loganair to “work towards potential adoption of hydrogen electric engines” to deliver zero-emission flights across its mostly-UK network. The airline operates aircraft including Twin Otters and ATR 42 and 72 commuter planes.

“The future of sustainable flight will rely on companies like ZeroAvia and Loganair to be the pioneers of new technology,” said Loganair CEO Luke Farajallah.

“We truly believe the Loganair fleet and network to be the perfect airline/geography combination when considering the ZeroAvia product suite and we look forward to working together to provide a greener future.

“The recent commitments made by ZeroAvia to bring their hydrogen fuel cell manufacturing centre to Glasgow, and the strong engagement between our senior teams has made this step entirely possible and logical.”

ZeroAvia founder and CEO Val Miftakhov added: “Loganair’s route network lends itself very well to adoption of both our ZA600 and ZA2000 engine technology post-certification, so hopefully this can be the start of a long-lasting customer relationship for ZeroAvia and cleaner transport for passengers in Scotland and the UK.”

ZeroAvia already has a long-standing partnership with Glasgow Airport to investigate hydrogen fuel infrastructure, and its new hydrogen fuel cell manufacturing plant will be developed close to both the airport and the airline’s headquarters.

These developments coincide with new funding from the UK government through the ATI Programme to support the introduction of liquid hydrogen for future powertrains and aircraft. The amount of the grant was not disclosed but it will help ZeroAvia and consortium partners fund the £10.8 million ($14.4m) Liquid Hydrogen System Integration & Flight Test (LH-SIFT) project, which will culminate in the integration of a novel lightweight fuel system into a Dornier 228 before a series of flight tests.

The project will also establish what ZeroAvia claims is the world’s first liquid hydrogen flying commercial airframe testbed that will enable later projects to develop and test cryogenic aviation fuel system components in flight.

“Liquid hydrogen is needed to achieve the volumetric and gravimetric energy density required by larger zero-emission aircraft that no other solution offers,” said the company’s Chief Strategy Officer, James McMicking.

“This project will drive further evolution of liquid hydrogen technology and provide the capability to test and validate these in-flight and through refuelling operations. It will help to unlock investment from the wider aerospace ecosystem that can scale zero-emission aircraft technology and the supporting hydrogen airport infrastructure.”  

Subject to certification, ZeroAvia has also signed an agreement with RVL Aviation, based at East Midlands Airport, to operate freight flights within the UK using a Cessna Caravan 208B sourced from London-based regional aircraft lessor MONTE and converted from conventional propulsion to a ZeroAvia ZA600.

RVL also operates special mission flights including surveillance, airborne surveys and aerial dispersal services.

“Analysis performed by RVL and ZeroAvia confirms that the ZA600-enabled Cessna Caravan would meet existing operational requirements, while virtually eliminating the climate impact of the operations,” the companies said. “There are nearly 1,000 aircraft operating cargo routes around the world today that could in future be powered by ZA600 powertrains.”

Image: ZeroAvia is developing the ZA2000 powertrain for aircraft such as the 40-80 seat ATR family of regional turboprops

Tony Harrington

Correspondent

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