UAE state-owned clean energy company Masdar has signed a partnership agreement with hydrogen-electric aircraft developer ZeroAvia aimed at building supply and refuelling infrastructure at airports in North America and Europe. The collaboration “is likely to power the world’s first hydrogen-powered commercial flights” Masdar said.

The agreement with ZeroAvia is the latest in a series of collaborations with the aviation sector entered into by Masdar over the last year as it seeks an outlet for its rapidly growing green hydrogen production base, and first mover advantage in one of the “hard-to-abate” industries.

“Masdar looks forward to working with innovative partners like ZeroAvia to advance decarbonisation in hard-to-abate sectors, such as aviation,” said CEO Mohamed Jameel al-Ramahi.

“Masdar looks forward to working with innovative partners like ZeroAvia to advance decarbonisation in hard-to-abate sectors, such as aviation” Ramahi, Masdar

Masdar’s main aircraft industry focus is the production of hydrogen-based sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which are seen as “drop-in fuels” that can be blended with conventional jet fuel in existing engines. It is working with aerospace group Airbus on the development of SAF by combining direct air capture technology with green hydrogen production.

ZeroAvia’s approach is different. Its engine technology, which is suited to smaller aircrafts, involves direct use of hydrogen in fuel cells, which generate electricity used to power motors to drive propellers. The company recently completed a flight test campaign of its ZA600 engine aboard a Dornier 228 aircraft at its UK base in Kemble, Gloucestershire.

ZeroAvia aims to develop systems to refuel planes of up to 90 seats at commercial airports by the end of this decade. With every such aircraft requiring up to 1t of green hydrogen per short regional flight, even a small commercial airport could drive demand of more than 100t/d, it said.

“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 endeavour,” said ZeroAvia’s founder and CEO Val Miftakhov.

For Masdar, the aviation sector represents an important potential offtaker for its hydrogen. The company aims to produce 1.4m t/yr by 2031, potentially rising to 15m t/yr by 2050. However, it recently conceded it is struggling to secure long-term offtake agreements at viable prices and called on policymakers to offer incentives to help drive demand.

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Author: Stuart Penson