Fortum and ZeroAvia Collaborate to Explore Hydrogen Infrastructure for Zero-Emission Flights
Finnish energy company Fortum and zero-carbon flight specialists ZeroAvia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to investigate the development of hydrogen production and refuelling infrastructure at airports. The two companies aim to create a network of zero-emission flight routes.
According to the MoU, Fortum and ZeroAvia will explore the potential of hydrogen infrastructure at “relevant airports.” Although the press statement does not mention specific markets or airports, the partnership is a significant step forward for the aviation industry’s decarbonization efforts.
Fortum is new to the hydrogen and aviation territory, but the company aims to become a “key player in the hydrogen economy by developing and providing smart and agile decarbonization solutions for customers.” ZeroAvia, on the other hand, has been demonstrating the potential of hydrogen-electric flight with its HyFlyer prototype planes for over two years.
The current 19-seater Dornier conversion uses hydrogen fuel cells for electric propulsion instead of replacing fuel with hydrogen in a combustion system. ZeroAvia is exploring this scenario to power longer-haul flights, as we explained in our previous overview of hydrogen in aviation.
This agreement is not the first for ZeroAvia, as the company has already signed agreements with Shell and Rotterdam Airport to develop a concept for hydrogen operations at airports. The partners plan to conduct demonstration flights to European destinations in late 2024 and aim to establish flight routes within 250 nautical miles (around 463 kilometers) of Rotterdam.
Fortum and ZeroAvia’s collaboration could also support complementary traffic from heavy-duty transportation or materials handling equipment. However, any future decisions on possible investments will be made at a later stage, according to Fortum.
In conclusion, the partnership between Fortum and ZeroAvia to explore the development of hydrogen infrastructure at airports is a significant step forward for the aviation industry’s decarbonization efforts. By creating a network of zero-emission flight routes, the companies could help reduce the aviation industry’s carbon footprint and accelerate the transition to a cleaner and more sustainable future.
