Swedish hydrogen fuel cell technology developer PowerCell Sweden AB (PowerCell) has announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with the UK-US aviation startup ZeroAvia Inc concerning series deliveries of 100-kW fuel cell stacks starting in 2024.
Founded in 2018, ZeroAvia has already noted considerable interest in its plans to develop a 19-seat, hydrogen-electric aircraft and has received an increasing number of orders from customers looking to transition to emission-free powertrains for aircraft.
Given the growing interest in hydrogen-electric solutions, customers are concerned that demand could increase at a faster rate than the industry’s production capacity. Over the past year, a growing number of customers have therefore begun investigating the possibility of safeguarding their long-term delivery capacity in the same way ZeroAvia is doing now, said Richard Berkling, CEO of PowerCell Sweden.
Builds on existing collaboration
PowerCell has been a key supplier of low-temperature Proton Exchange Membrane (LTPEM) fuel cells as part of ZeroAvia’s pioneering efforts to develop a certifiable 600 kW hydrogen-electric powertrain underneath the HyFlyer II project, supported by the UK Government through the ATI program.
The partnership will see both parties continuing to work together to modify existing PowerCell stacks for optimal performance within ZeroAvia’s hydrogen-electric, zero-emission aviation powertrains.
The MoU includes an agreement that PowerCell will establish local production in the UK for final assembly and adaptation of the stacks to ZeroAvia’s fuel cell system and application.
PowerCell intends to assemble the modified stacks for incorporation into ZeroAvia’s prototype, and later certified powertrains.
First 600 kW test flight imminent
ZeroAvia plans to power 9–19 seat commercial aircraft up to 300 nautical miles using its ZA600 powertrains by 2024—enabling emissions-free flights on routes such as London to Edinburgh and Stockholm to Malmö.
After conducting a demonstration of 6-seat R&D prototypes, ZeroAvia is preparing for the inaugural test flight of its 600 kW hydrogen-electric engine in the near future, including the use of PowerCell fuel cell stacks as part of these systems.
The company is also retrofitting a second Dornier-228 testbed in Hollister, California (CA), to conduct further flight tests and demonstrations in the important North American market.
This MoU further cements ZeroAvia’s lead in the race to deliver true zero-emission engines for commercial flights. By co-locating this operation, we can ensure the full collaboration of both talented teams in tailoring hydrogen fuel cell stacks for aviation. This will result in the delivery of systems with the required power to enable electric aviation to achieve range and payload that is highly attractive to operators and airframe OEMs while eliminating emissions, said Val Miftakhov, Founder & CEO of ZeroAvia.
Through this MoU, ZeroAvia has secured deliveries of fuel cell stacks for several years to come. It is currently estimated that a final agreement could include the delivery of 5 000 units over a five-year period.
The final commercial terms will be negotiated in the next phase. The parties’ ambition, in accordance with the MoU, is to reach a final agreement in the third quarter of 2022.
