ZeroAvia and AGS Airports are to collaborate on hydrogen fuel infrastructure and launching zero-emission routes.
In a first-of-a-kind partnership for the UK, zero-emission aviation pioneer ZeroAvia will work with operator AGS Airports to explore the development of hydrogen fuel infrastructure, regulatory framework requirements and resourcing required for delivering zero-emission flights from Aberdeen and Glasgow airports.
The team at AGS, which owns and operates Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports, will work closely with ZeroAvia’s specialist airport infrastructure team to assess the opportunities for hydrogen production onsite, as well as exploring potential commercial routes.
Switching some routes to aircraft powered by ZeroAvia’s hydrogen-electric powertrain will help AGS Airports to significantly reduce Scope 3 carbon emissions from aircraft and reduce noise and air quality impacts locally. At the same time, AGS will explore how hydrogen can be used to remove emissions across ground operations.
ZeroAvia will share its experience in developing and operating its hydrogen airport refuelling ecosystem (HARE) at Cotswold Airport in Gloucestershire. The new partners will work towards a flight demonstration powered by ZeroAvia’s ZA600 600kW hydrogen-electric engine, which is aiming for certification by 2025. Commercial routes from Glasgow could follow soon after.
The agreement will form an important part of AGS Airports’ drive to reach net zero carbon emissions by the middle of the next decade.
“As a regional airport group serving the Highlands and Islands of Scotland as well as the Channel Islands from Southampton, AGS will be the perfect testbed for hydrogen flight,” said Derek Provan, chief executive of AGS Airports.
“Through our partnership with ZeroAvia we’ll address some of the challenges associated with the generation, delivery and storage of hydrogen on-site and how we can prepare our infrastructure to support zero emission flights.”
Image: ZeroAvia and AGS Airports
