ZeroAvia, a pioneering company in the field of zero-emission aviation, with operations in the UK and USA, has announced that its application to the European Union (EU) Innovation Fund for a 21.4-million-euro grant to support the introduction of hydrogen-electric aircraft has been selected for ‘grant agreement preparation’. Project ODIN will support the retrofit of 15 Cessna Caravan aircraft with ZeroAvia’s ZA600 hydrogen-electric engines and the establishment of the supporting airport hydrogen fuel technologies, with operations planned to commence in 2028.
These zero-emission aircraft will replace conventional kerosene-fuelled turboprops on cargo routes reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than 95%. The project will also work to deliver hydrogen refuelling and storage infrastructure at 15 airports in Norway, establishing the world’s largest network of zero-emission commercial flights — the participating airlines for the network will be announced in due course.
EU initiativeThe ODIN project aims to validate the technical performance and economic case for adopting hydrogen-electric aircraft in commercial operations, with a view to catalysing further adoption in Norway, the wider EU, and further afield. The project proposal was found to contribute to the objectives of the EU initiative ‘Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP)’ and meets the requirements to receive the STEP Seal which is a quality label awarded by the European Commission dedicated to boosting investment in critical technologies within Europe.
ZeroAvia’s ZA600 powertrain uses fuel cells to generate electricity from hydrogen fuel without reliance on combustion, meaning that the only emission is low-temperature water vapour. ZeroAvia has already flight-tested a prototype of this system, and is now ground-testing its final design for certification, while concurrently working with both the UK Civil Aviation Authority and US Federal Aviation Administration on certification programmes related to the engine.
Val Miftakhov, ZeroAvia’s founder and CEO, said: “The EU Innovation Fund is notoriously competitive with applications needing to pass through rigorous assessment and demonstrate compelling evidence for near-term greenhouse gas reductions. This project will set a phenomenal example by introducing a scaled network of hydrogen-electric aircraft operations, efficiently delivering vital goods to people and businesses across Norway without the associated environmental damage.”
The Innovation Fund, financed by EU Emissions Trading System revenues, is one of the world’s largest funding programmes for the demonstration of innovative low-carbon technologies. It focuses on highly innovative clean technologies and big flagship projects with European added value that can bring significant emission and greenhouse gas reductions.