The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney has awarded a contract to Fuel Cell Systems Ltd (FCSL) to supply a hydrogen refuelling vehicle for the HyFlyer project.

Funded by Innovate UK, this project aims to demonstrate the viability of hydrogen fuel cell powertrain technology for zero-emission aviation.

It will use a Piper M-class six-seater aircraft and perform test flights out of Cranfield and Orkney.

The project is being led by California-based ZeroAvia, which is collaborating with Leicestershire-based fuel cell engineering company Intelligent Energy on the optimisation of its fuel cell technology for aviation use.

The tender for the mobile refuelling unit was issued by HyFlyer project partner EMEC Hydrogen, which is investigating the infrastructure required and will supply the ‘green’ hydrogen for the flight tests in Orkney.

FCSL launched the first-ever mobile hydrogen refuelling vehicle, HyTruck, back in 2016. It has since supported a range of projects, including a trial of Suzuki fuel-cell powered scooters by the Metropolitan Police and the testing of the first hydrogen fuel-cell train in the UK (Hydroflex).

Tom Chicken, CTO at FCSL (www.fuelcellsystems.co.uk), said: “Providing fuel at the correct pressure, purity, quantity and place is a vital enabler to maximise the opportunity presented by hydrogen.

“HyTruck delivers on all these fronts and is an important part of our spectrum of mobile refuelling products.”