by DRONELIFE Staff Author Ian J. McNabb
As hydrogen powered aviation matures, hydrogen aircraft engine developer ZeroAvia and hydrogen infrastructure company Verne recently announced a strategic partnership, signing an MOU to guage the chance to make use of cryo-compressed hydrogen (CcH2) to fuel aircraft and for conducting CcH2 refueling from gaseous hydrogen (GH2) and liquid hydrogen (LH2) sources.
Verne is an organization focused on cryo-compressed hydrogen solutions for the heavy transportation space. By storing hydrogen at extremely low temperatures, the energy density is increased, possibly enabling prolonged flight times over gaseous hydrogen-powered aircraft. Verne says that their cryo-compressed hydrogen can achieve over 40% higher energy density than LH2 and 300% higher energy density than 350 bar gaseous hydrogen, along with reducing densification costs and refueling time and increasing dormancy periods.
The partnership might be focused on bringing Verne’s technology to airports, starting in California. Verne has already developed a system able to 4MWh of storage, and recently unveiled a brand new 1 MWh CcH2 storage prototype alongside the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory,
Sergey Kiselev, Chief Business Officer at ZeroAvia, said, “With our engines just a number of years from flying passengers and cargo, it is crucial for us that we discover the optimal solutions to support airport hydrogen ecosystems. Increasing storage capability and refueling speed using novel technologies is a vital avenue for scaling up hydrogen aviation, and we’re delighted to work with Verne on assessing the role of cryo-compressed hydrogen.”
Ted McKlveen, Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder at Verne, said, “Aviation is a large potential marketplace for Verne, because it becomes clear that hydrogen is critical to tackling the industry’s climate impact. Airports will be centers of hydrogen activity, with co-located hydrogen demand for aircraft, airport ground operations, and on-road industrial transportation. Cryo-compressed hydrogen has a key role in optimizing this ecosystem.”
ZeroAvia has made headlines for its hydrogen-powered aircraft engines, that are currently able to powering as much as 20-seat planes. Development is underway on a prototype of the ZA2000 that may power as much as a 76-seat aircraft.
In other recent news, ZeroAvia announced that MEHAIR, a number one aviation service provider within the Indian sub-continent, has placed a conditional order for as much as 20 ZA600 hydrogen-electric engines. This order contributes to ZeroAvia’s impressive tally of over 2,000 engine pre-orders.
MEHAIR, known for its services across the region since 2011, plans to expand on sub-regional routes in India using each amphibian and wheeled aircraft. The corporate is exploring financing options, including collaboration with potential leasing partners, and has an existing relationship with MONTE as its preferred ZA600 lessor partner.
ZeroAvia and MEHAIR will collaborate on establishing fuel supply for MEHAIR’s services across India. ZeroAvia goals to certify the ZA600 by the top of 2025, aligning with India’s ambitious goals for hydrogen as a clean energy source in aviation.
With India’s aviation sector rapidly growing, the introduction of hydrogen-electric engines aligns with the country’s clean energy aspirations. MEHAIR’s Managing Director, Siddharth Verma, expressed enthusiasm for spearheading this sustainable aviation revolution in partnership with ZeroAvia and the Government of India. The hydrogen-electric engines offer lower operating costs and zero-emission flight, supporting the expansion of regional aviation and MEHAIR’s operations.
More information on ZeroAvia is offered here: more information on Verne is offered here. More information on MEHAIR will be found here.
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