Loganair, ZeroAvia ready 2500 kW electric motor for hydrogen aviation future

Scotland’s Loganair is charting a new, hydrogen-powered course for sustainable aviation, partnering with ZeroAvia to develop new, zero-emissions offerings that could see the airline’s 40-80 passenger capacity aircraft operate emission-free on regional routes across the UK and Europe.

ZeroAvia seems to be spending the $150M it raised from Airbus and American Airlines in Q4 of last year well, advancing certification for its “ZA600” 600 kW hydrogen fuel cell powertrain for 10-20 seat aircraft with the UK’s CAA. At the same time, ZeroAvia is developing a second, more powerful modular engine called ZA2000 intended for use 40-80 seat aircraft like the ATR 42 and 72 — which Loganair owns more than twenty of.

“The recent commitments made by ZeroAvia to bring their hydrogen fuel-cell manufacturing centre to Glasgow, and the strong engagement between our senior teams, has made this next step entirely possible and logical,” explains Luke Farajallah, CEO of Loganair. “The future of sustainable flight will rely on companies like ZeroAvia and Loganair to be the pioneers of new technology, and we see the work being undertaken by Val and the team as being incredibly inspiring and realistic when set against our own work and ambitious targets in this space. We truly believe the Loganair fleet and network to be the perfect airline/geography combination when considering the ZeroAvia product suite and we look forward to working together to provide a greener future.”

ZeroAvia ZA2000 v. ICE option

What ZeroAvia calls “hydrogen-electric aircraft engines” might be more familiar to Electrek readers as “HFCEVs in the sky,” which use hydrogen (in the case of ZeroAvia, really cold hydrogen) in fuel cells to generate electricity that powers electric motors turning propellers. And, with regional turboprop aircraft operating below typical contrail formation, the company says its powertrain’s in-flight emissions are, “effectively zero.”

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More importantly to airlines like Loganair, American, and aviation startup EcoJet, however, are the potential cost-savings involved.

Importantly, these novel engines promise cost reductions for airlines. The substantially lower maintenance needs of hydrogen-electric engines will mean a decrease in maintenance and downtime for an airline’s fleet, with hydrogen fuel also projected to be significantly more cost effective than kerosene over time.   

ZEROAVIA

With the cost and relative dirtiness of hydrogen making it “impossible” for it to be taken seriously as a fuel for sustainable ground-based transportation, it remains to be seen if either H or Loganair will have better luck in the skies — especially as more and more hydrogen projects stall in just about every industry and the big energy companies seem to be regrouping around EVs.

As such, you won’t find an “Electrek’s Take” section on this one. All the same, we’d love to hear what you think about hydrogen’s prospects as an avgas alternative in the comments.

SOURCE | IMAGES: ZeroAvia.

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