H2 View understands, the agreement will see the partners explore the development of hydrogen airport fuel infrastructure, regulatory framework requirements, and resourcing required for delivering hydrogen-powered flights from Aberdeen and Glasgow.
AGS, who owns and operates Aberdeen, Glasgow, and Southampton airports, is set to work with ZeroAvia to assess the opportunities for hydrogen production onsite, as well as exploring potential commercial routes.
By switching some routes to aircraft powered by ZeroAvia’s hydrogen-electric powertrain, it is hoped AGS Airports will reduce Scope 3 carbon emissions from aircraft, while reducing noise and improving air quality.
Additionally, AGS has said it will explore how the use of hydrogen could remove emissions across ground operations, further extending its impact.
ZeroAvia has said it will share its experience in developing and operating its Hydrogen Airport Refuelling Ecosystem (HARE) at Cotswold Airport in Gloucestershire, which will lead to a slight demonstration powered by the innovator’s ZA600 600kW hydrogen-electric engine, which looks set to achieve certification by 2025.
Commenting on the partnership, Arnab Chatterjee, Vice-President Infrastructure at ZeroAvia, said, “In recent months, we have stepped up our work with airports significantly to better understand the operational needs and requirements for hydrogen as a fuel.
“Working with the team at AGS allows us to plan for some of the commercial routes that we will be able to support in a little over two years’ time, and do so in the setting of a major international airport.”
In July (2022), ZeroAvia partnered with Edmonton International Airport (IEA) to collaborate on developing hydrogen infrastructure at both Villeneuve Airport and the main airport.
Read more: ZeroAvia partners with Canadian Airport to establish hydrogen infrastructure
Derek Provan, Chief Executive of AGS Airports, added, “The development of hydrogen powered aircraft has the potential to completely revolutionise aviation, and it is becoming an increasingly viable option for regional and short-haul aircraft.
“As a regional airport group serving the Highlands and Islands of Scotland as well as the Channel Islands from Southampton, AGS will be the perfect testbed for hydrogen flight.
“Through our partnership with ZeroAvia we’ll address some of the challenges associated with the generation, delivery and storage of hydrogen on-site and how we can prepare our infrastructure to support zero emission flights.”
H2 View’s Hydrogen Mobility Snap Summit – November 29
With the mobility pillar consistently a hot topic for hydrogen markets and arguably the most anticipated and relatable application of the energy transition, H2 View stages a Mobility Snap Summit this November to summarise the progress made in 2022 and look ahead to what’s still to come.
Infrastructure challenges remain. Questions linger over policy and implementation. Many wonder which strand of the transport sector will blaze the trail in hydrogen power first, and likewise which region. There are clear challenges ahead, yet considerable progress made in 2022 and bright spots ahead in 2023 and beyond.
Join H2 View this November for a half-day online event dedicated to unearthing the progress made, dissecting the challenges to be met and establishing the state-of-play across mobility as 2023 approaches. Find more information here.
Premium Subscribers to H2 View have access to this event as part of their subscription package; non-subscribers can secure access to the event with a delegate ticket ($99). All delegates can access the event on-demand from 1st December.