AGS Airports has reached an agreement with ZeroAvia to explore the development of the hydrogen fuel infrastructure, regulatory framework requirements and resourcing required for delivering zero-emission flights from Aberdeen and Glasgow.
The companies will now work to assess the opportunities for hydrogen production onsite, as well as exploring potential commercial routes.
Switching some routes to aircraft powered by ZeroAvia’s hydrogen-electric powertrain could help AGS to significantly reduce Scope 3 carbon emissions from aircraft, while also reducing noise and air quality impacts locally.
The partners will work towards a flight demonstration powered by ZeroAvia’s ZA600 600kW hydrogen-electric engine, which is on a path towards certification by 2025. Commercial routes from Glasgow could follow soon after.
The agreement forms part of AGS’ drive to reach net zero carbon emissions by the middle of the next decade.
Arnab Chatterjee, vice president for infrastructure at ZeroAvia: said: “In recent months we have stepped up our work with airports significantly to better understand the operational needs and requirements for hydrogen as a fuel.
“Working with the team at AGS allows us to plan for some of the commercial routes that we will be able to support in a little over two years’ time, and do so in the setting of a major international airport.”
Derek Provan, chief executive of AGS Airports, said: “The development of hydrogen powered aircraft has the potential to completely revolutionise aviation and it is becoming an increasingly viable option for regional and short-haul aircraft.
“As a regional airport group serving the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, as well as the Channel Islands from Southampton, AGS will be the perfect testbed for hydrogen flight.
“Through our partnership with ZeroAvia we’ll address some of the challenges associated with the generation, delivery and storage of hydrogen on-site and how we can prepare our infrastructure to support zero emission flights.”
Minister for Transport Jenny Gilruth added: “This is an encouraging development as hydrogen has the potential to be a true zero emission fuel and could play a key role in helping the Scottish aviation sector reach net zero.
“Many of the routes that operate from Glasgow and Aberdeen to airports across the Highlands and Islands are served by small aircraft and real social, economic and environmental benefits could be delivered by cleaner, quieter and lower cost aircraft.”
The ZA600 is designed to power nine to 19 seat aircraft up to 300 nautical miles and will soon be flight tested for the first time in a 19-seat Dornier 228.
Hydrogen-electric engines use hydrogen in fuel cells to generate electricity, which is then used to power electric motors to turn the aircraft’s propellers; with the only byproduct being water.
ZeroAvia's team is working with airports and other partners to deliver last-mile hydrogen delivery and refuelling infrastructure to support airline operators, supported either by upstream fuel supplier partnerships, or building of distributed production infrastructure.
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