ZeroAvia, a U.S.-based company that develops hydrogen-electric engines for aircraft, has announced a new agreement with Ecojet, a British airline that aims to become carbon-free.
The deal, supported by MONTE, a financier of green technology, will enable Ecojet to buy up to 70 engines from ZeroAvia, including its ZA600 and ZA2000 models.
ZA600 and ZA2000 engines
The ZA600 engine can power 19-seat regional aircraft, while the ZA2000 engine can power 80-seat regional turboprop aircraft. Ecojet plans to start operations in 2024 with conventional aircraft flying from Edinburgh. Once ZeroAvia obtains the type certification for its ZA600 engine in 2025, Ecojet will retrofit its aircraft with hydrogen-electric engines. Ecojet also intends to use the ZA2000 engines by 2027.
Today, #ZeroAvia made #aviation history. The 19-seat Dornier 228 testbed #aircraft took to the skies above England's Cotswolds with the leftside propeller powered by a #hydrogen-electric powertrain. A huge step for #zeroemission aviation. Read more: https://t.co/dqETTlmbmp pic.twitter.com/dgaCDw4Cfv
— ZeroAvia (@ZeroAvia) January 19, 2023
Earlier this year, ZeroAvia completed a series of test flights with a prototype of its ZA600 engine on a Dornier 228 aircraft. The company is also developing core technologies for larger aircraft, such as those powered by the ZA2000 engine.
Recently, ZeroAvia also partnered with Alaska Airlines, a major U.S. carrier, to retrofit a Bombardier Q400 regional turboprop with a hydrogen-electric propulsion system. The expansion of zero-emissions flight technology through retrofitted aircraft will bring the aviation industry closer to achieving its goal of net-zero carbon emissions.
ZeroAvia has also partnered strategically with Natilus, a U.S.-based startup that designs autonomous blended wing body (BWB) cargo aircraft solutions. The partnership will see ZeroAvia’s ZA600 engine as the sole hydrogen-electric propulsion source for the Natilus Kona cargo aircraft with a 3.8-ton payload capacity. The Kona aircraft is intended for the domestic market and aims to offer zero-emission and lower-cost operations.
Ecojet’s founder, Dale Vince, said the deal with ZeroAvia was a milestone for the aviation industry and the environment. He said flying with zero emissions was possible and would soon become a reality. He added that this would show that a green lifestyle and net zero targets were achievable without giving up flying.
ZeroAvia, MONTE, and Ecojet will collaborate with local airports to create the first routes for hydrogen-electric commercial flights in the UK and beyond. They will also work with regulators and policymakers to support the adoption of hydrogen as a sustainable aviation fuel.
Originally published on Interesting Engineering : Original article