Birmingham Airport (BHX) in the UK has partnered with ZeroAvia to bring zero-emission aircraft and on-airfield hydrogen refuelling to the airport. The airport plans to utilise a disused area to build hydrogen refuelling infrastructure and conduct testing and operations.
ZeroAvia, a company that is currently developing a zero-emission system capable of flying 20-seat aircraft 300 nautical miles by 2025, uses hydrogen-electric engines to generate electricity, which powers electric motors to turn the aircraft’s propellers, producing only water as a byproduct.
BHX has set a target to become a net-zero-carbon airport by 2033 by prioritising zero-carbon airport operations and minimising the use of carbon offsets. Arnab Chatterjee, VP Infrastructure at ZeroAvia, states that BHX can become a central spoke in a green flight network in the UK, with domestic mainland destinations reachable from the airport using ZeroAvia’s first systems in 2025.
See also: ZeroAvia Makes History with Maiden Flight of World’s Largest Hydrogen-Electric Powered Aircraft
Simon Richards, Chief Finance & Sustainability Officer at Birmingham Airport, is excited about the partnership and the potential for hydrogen-powered domestic passenger flights taking off from BHX in the near future. ZeroAvia has secured partnerships with major aircraft OEMs and global airlines and is on track for commercial operations in 2025.
The collaboration between BHX and ZeroAvia is a significant step towards achieving a greener aviation industry, in line with the UK’s Jet Zero Strategy to enable domestic aviation to be net-zero by 2040. By embracing innovative solutions such as hydrogen-electric engines, the aviation industry can play its part in protecting the future of our planet.
