As part of the LOI, three ATR 72-600 hydrogen conversion kits will be supplied to the French airline to reduce the carbon output of regional flight in addition to promoting hydrogen’s use in the aviation sector.

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In order to support the conversion of the Paris-based Amelia regional aircraft, Universal Hydrogen will utilise its European engineering centre in Toulouse.

 The engineering centre will enable the development of conversion kits for retrofitting regional aircraft with a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain for Amelia, as well as the development of modular storage capsules for the distribution of hydrogen to airports.

Paul Eremenko, co-founder and CEO of Universal Hydrogen, said, “This commitment from Amelia to powering their fleet with green hydrogen is a harbinger of a true-zero-emissions future for regional aviation.

“France has been a global leader in driving sustainability goals in its transportation networks, and this important step demonstrates that regional aviation has a bright future as part of the solution rather than part of the problem.”

Alain Regourd, President of Amelia, said, “Amelia is proud to be the first airline client of Universal Hydrogen in France, proving our entrepreneurial DNA and strong drive to have a positive impact on our environment. It’s also of course imperative for our company to be the regional airline of choice for French travellers.

“To achieve this, our routes must meet their needs and our products and services must align with their values. After launching ‘Amelia Green,’ we proactively sought out companies to work with to decarbonise our fleet.

“With the help of Universal Hydrogen, Amelia is leading the way in zero-carbon aircraft and becoming a bellwether for sustainability in the French aviation industry.”