GHG Emissions, Commercial, Sourcing Renewables  -  August 7, 2024

Ecojet Signs for Hydrogen-Electric Engines

Commercial electric airline Ecojet signed an agreement to purchase 22 ZA2000 hydrogen-electric engines.

The engines will be purchased from zero emissions company ZeroAvia with options to purchase another 40 engines. The ZA2000 engine can be retrofitted into 40-seat to 80-seat regional turboprops for zero-emission flights.  

Ecojet, which is based in Edinburgh, is seeking to be a fully electric commercial carrier. The airline is aiming to launch services in late 2024 with conventionally powered aircraft, operating routes to and from Edinburgh and retrofitting them once the hydrogen-electric technology is certified. 

Ecojet will operate its first zero-emission aircraft with ZeroAvia’s ZA600 engines in planes up to 20 seats. The company's goal is to build a fleet of larger regional aircraft to serve passengers on key domestic and shorter international routes. 

The hydrogen-electric engines work by using hydrogen to generate electricity that powers propellers to fly the aircraft. 

 “Ecojet, the world’s first electric airline is on a mission to make net-zero, emission-free air travel possible for the first time,” said Dale Vince, Founder of EcoJet, in a statement. “We’ve moved one step closer by signing an agreement to purchase 22 hydrogen electric engines from ZeroAvia. This is nothing short of a revolution in aviation, the world has just moved a step closer towards a solution to sustainable air travel.” 

ZeroAvia already extensively tested a prototype of its first ZA600-engine aboard a Dornier 228 aircraft at its U.K. base. The company has also performed advanced ground tests in the U.S. and U.K. for the key building block technologies for the ZA2000 system, including cryogenic tanks, or LH2, and proprietary high-temperature PEM fuel cell and electric propulsion systems. ZA2000 will support up to 80-seat regional turboprop aircraft such as the ATR72 or the Dash 8 400.  

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