World’s first hydrogen aircraft network to be launched in Norway

British-American hydrogen-electric aircraft developer ZeroAvia has announced that its application to the Innovation Fund for a €21.4m grant has been selected for agreement preparation.

The project 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 are planned to replace conventional kerosene-fuelled turboprops on cargo routes and are expected to see in excess of 95 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

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 air operators for the network will be announced in due course.
 
The ODIN project aims to validate the technical performance and economic case for utilising hydrogen-electric aircraft in commercial operations, with a view to catalysing further adoption in Norway, across the EU, and beyond. 

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. It is concurrently working with both the UK Civil Aviation Authority and US Federal Aviation Administration on certification programmes related to the engine. 

Val Miftakhov, Founder & CEO of ZeroAvia 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 typical associated environmental damage.”