Scotland Invests in ZeroAvia The Scottish National Investment Bank (SNIB) has put £20 million into ZeroAvia, a hydrogen-electric aviation firm. This investment is part of a larger $150 million Series C funding round.
Other contributors include Alaska Airlines, Airbus, and Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund. ZeroAvia aims to develop zero-emission, hydrogen-electric engines for commercial planes.
ZeroAvia’s Ambitious Plans Founded in California, ZeroAvia is exploring future flight routes in Scotland’s Highlands and Islands and possible manufacturing sites in the country. Earlier this year, ZeroAvia partnered with ScottishPower to investigate green hydrogen supply options at Scottish airports. They plan to market their engines for commercial aircraft by 2027 and have a long-term partnership with AGS Airports, operating in Aberdeen and Glasgow.
Hydrogen-electric Engine Development ZeroAvia is working on two hydrogen-electric engine models that can be retrofitted into existing aircraft. Their 600kW ZA600 engine is under certification, while the ZA2000 engine is designed for 40-80-seat regional planes. In July, Ecojet, an electric airline based in Edinburgh, signed to purchase 22 ZA2000 engines, with an option for 40 more. This follows Ecojet’s previous order for 70 engines last November.
SNIB’s Commitment to Clean Aviation This £20 million investment marks SNIB’s first venture into sustainable aviation and hydrogen-based technology. They join previous investors like American Airlines and the ITOCHU Corporation. Recent investments include Airbus, Barclays Sustainable Impact Capital, and Bill Gates’s Breakthrough Energy Ventures.
Prominent Figures Weigh In SNIB investment director Robin Tayal highlighted the importance of decarbonizing aviation for the net zero transition, emphasizing the need for critical research and manufacturing. ZeroAvia’s founder and CEO, Val Miftakhov, called the financing round “exceptionally strong” and said it supports the company’s vision for a clean future in aviation. Miftakhov praised Scotland as an excellent site for their UK operations, citing the country’s net zero targets and strategic focus on hydrogen.
