ZeroAvia, a company specialising in zero emission solutions for commercial aviation, has signed agreements with Braathens Regional Airlines, Skellefteå Airport (SFT) and the municipal energy company Skellefteå Kraft to enable low-emission flights in Sweden.
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ZeroAvia to work towards hydrogen-powered flights
Under the partnership, the parties will work to conduct demonstration flights and explore possible commercial air routes from the airport served by hydrogen-powered aircraft. Braathens Regional Airlines, one of country’s largest airlines, would provide part of its fleet for these demonstrations.
The partners will study the potential for operating aircraft powered by the ZA600 hybrid-electric powertrain, developed by ZeroAvia for regional aircraft of between 9 and 19 seats, as well as the ZA2000, designed for airplanes of between 40 and 80 seats, which is scheduled to enter service in 2027.
These propulsion systems work on the basis of stored hydrogen gas, which feeds fuel cells that, in turn, convert the hydrogen into electricity and thus generate energy.
For their part, representatives from Skellefteå Airport will investigate the operational infrastructure needed to support operations of this type. They will also assess possible additional opportunities.
Hydrogen and emissions reduction
«Sweden is one of the most ambitious countries in the world in pursuit of net zero targets for aviation, with an overall fossil fuel-free aspiration by 2045, and planning for all domestic flights to be fossil free by 2030», explained James Peck, ZeroAvia’s CCO. «Bold projects such as the one planned for Skellefteå are crucial in this endeavour», he said.
«To achieve our airlines’ ambitious goals to reach net-zero for our international flights by 2045, we need to speed up the development of technology», said Ulrika Matsgård, CEO of Braathens Regional Airlines. She also highlighted the role of hydrogen in contributing to decarbonisation initiatives in the aviation sector in Scandinavia and the rest of Europe.
