ZeroAvia, Masdar ink partnership to build H2 aircraft refueling infrastructure

ZeroAvia has announced partnership with UAE energy firm Masdar to explore hydrogen production and supply at key locations meant for hydrogen-fueled aviation. The initially focus is on projects in North America and Europe, while also looking at the opportunity to establish clean flight operations in the UAE, the partners said. 

The zero-emission aviation solutions firm is working with global energy companies to convene the provision of fuel for its airline operator customers, as early as 2025. ZeroAvia is targeting refueling onboard aircraft tanks for up to 90- seat aircraft at commercial airports by the end of this decade. 

With every such aircraft requiring up to 1 ton of hydrogen per each short regional flight, even a small commercial airport can drive more than a hundred tons of demand daily, the company claims. Using renewable energy to make the required hydrogen would make the entire operations completely 'zero-emission'. 

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Val Miftakhov, Founder and CEO, ZeroAvia, commented on the partnership, "We need large investment in renewable energy capacity to accelerate a future of truly clean flight for the entire industry, so we are delighted to partner with Masdar in this endeavor. Together, we are bringing the clean propulsion technology and the fuel to airlines to ensure that passengers can fly without any emissions and climate effects as soon as possible."

Masdar wants to be a global green hydrogen leader through a "smart first mover" approach, by developing and investing in strategic projects and building scalable platforms in key markets. The company is targeting 1 million tonnes of green hydrogen production per year by 2030.

The company's green hydrogen division claims to be already involved in major aviation projects targeting the the use of green hydrogen for aircraft operations. This new collaboration with ZeroAvia is likely to power the world's first hydrogen-powered commercial flights, according to the partners. 

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"Masdar looks forward to working with innovative partners like ZeroAvia to advance decarbonization in hard-to-abate sectors, such as aviation. As the UAE's clean energy champion, we are passionate about unlocking the potential of green hydrogen to build a greener future for all", Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Masdar's CEO. 

It is to be noted that ZeroAvia recently completed a flight test campaign of the ZA600 engine aboard a Dornier 228 aircraft at its UK base in Kemble, Gloucestershire. 

The company claims to have already secured experimental certificates for its three prototype aircraft from the CAA and FAA, passed significant flight test milestones, secured a number of key partnerships with major aircraft OEMs, secured pre-orders for nearly 2,000 engines from a number of the major global airlines, with future revenue potential over $10bn.