ZeroAvia and PowerCell Partner on Next-Gen Fuel Cells for Clean Aviation
- HYSKY Society
- Oct 29, 2024
- 1 min read
ZeroAvia has announced a strategic partnership with PowerCell Group to jointly develop advanced fuel cell technologies aimed at more energy-intensive applications, including large fixed-wing aircraft and rotorcraft. This collaboration, formalized through a new Memorandum of Understanding, seeks to advance both intermediate and high-temperature fuel cells, enhancing power density and efficiency in hydrogen-electric propulsion systems.
The companies have a shared history, with PowerCell’s low-temperature PEM fuel cell stacks already integrated into ZeroAvia’s groundbreaking flight demonstrators. Building on this, the new collaboration will drive the development of ZeroAvia’s ZA2000 powertrain—designed for regional aircraft of 40 to 80 seats. This system aims to achieve a power density exceeding 3 kW/kg, a substantial step forward in enabling larger aircraft powered by hydrogen.
The collaboration will harness PowerCell’s experience in hydrogen fuel cell industrialization, with ZeroAvia’s CEO Val Miftakhov emphasizing the importance of this partnership to quickly advance clean flight solutions. PowerCell’s CEO Richard Berkling expressed confidence that commercial hydrogen-electric flights will drive rapid adoption, highlighting the environmental and economic benefits for airlines and passengers alike.
ZeroAvia’s recent progress includes successful prototype testing of the ZA600 engine aboard a Dornier 228, with ongoing certification processes in both the US and UK. The ZA2000 powertrain, planned for larger aircraft, is part of ZeroAvia’s vision to develop hydrogen-electric propulsion for the full spectrum of aviation, with pre-orders already indicating a potential $10 billion market.
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(Top image: Credit — ZeroAvia)
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