ZeroAvia, a UK company, has placed an order of MSEK 10.9 with PowerCell Sweden AB (publ).
The order is for fuel cell stacks, fuel cell systems, and engineering services to be delivered over the course of a year.
The order is part of a collaboration agreement inked by both firms, which intends to produce a certifiable fuel cell technology for commercial usage in aircraft as part of the UK HighFlyer 2 project. The purpose of HighFlyer 2 is to create a 19-seat hydrogen-electric commercial aircraft that is emissions-free. For the Highflyer project, ZeroAvia UK will collaborate with Hypermotive Ltd, a premier UK fuel cell technology company linked with Powercell Sweden AB. The order includes fuel cell stacks, fuel cell systems, and engineering services for the development of the new aircraft, and it is expected to be delivered over the course of a year. The total value of the order is MSEK 10.9.
In September of last year, ZeroAvia completed the world’s first commercial hydrogen-electric flight. The plane was equipped with a PowerCell MS-100 fuel cell system. PowerCell Sweden got two fuel cell system orders from ZeroAvia earlier this year, which the firm previously revealed.
“From a sustainability perspective, the significance of this cooperation can hardly be overstated because it involves resolving one of the largest environmental challenges in the area of transport – how aviation can become more sustainable. But the aviation industry also has unique requirements for both stability and performance, and the fact that we as a company are competitive in such a demanding segment is clear confirmation of our technological position, our expertise and our commercial offering,” says Richard Berkling, CEO of PowerCell Sweden AB.
“Hydrogen is the only viable option for large scale zero emission aircraft, due to three times higher specific energy content compared to jet fuel, and over 100 times higher than the best batteries today”, says Val Miftakhov, founder and CEO of ZeroAvia. “Hydrogen fuel cells are the most efficient way to convert that energy into propulsion, twice as efficient as burning it in any small turbine. We are happy to extend our collaboration with Powercell to bring the world closer to the future of aviation.”
