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| ZeroAvia and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Partner for Hydrogen-Electric Regional Turboprop Flight Demonstration Image credit: Electric Cars Report |
ZeroAvia and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines have announced a partnership to demonstrate ZeroAvia’s ZA2000 zero-emission, hydrogen-electric engines on large regional turboprop aircraft. These hydrogen-electric engines use fuel cells to convert hydrogen into electricity, which powers electric motors to drive the aircraft’s propellers. The only emission is low-temperature water vapor, potentially reducing climate impact by up to 90% compared to conventional kerosene-fueled flights.
Key Milestones and Goals
The first major target for this collaboration is to conduct an A-to-B flight demonstration between two airports by 2026. Immediate tasks include identifying the optimal airport pair, obtaining regulatory permits, ensuring a reliable supply of liquid hydrogen fuel, and establishing the necessary infrastructure for aircraft fueling. This demonstration aims to provide an evidence base for adopting cleaner flights within KLM’s network and accelerate the development of operational concepts for hydrogen aircraft across the EU.
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| ZeroAvia ZA2000 zero-emission aircraft Image credit: ZeroAvia |
Supporting Sustainable Aviation
KLM is committed to becoming a more sustainable airline and views advanced technologies like hydrogen and electric aviation as crucial to decarbonizing the aviation sector. The maintenance divisions of KLM and Air France have been collaborating with ZeroAvia to develop effective MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) operations for hydrogen fuel cell planes. This partnership further strengthens their commitment to sustainable aviation solutions.
ZeroAvia’s Technological Advancements
ZeroAvia has already conducted extensive testing of its ZA600 engine prototype on a Dornier 228 aircraft in the UK. The company has also performed advanced ground tests in the US and UK for key technologies related to the ZA2000 system, including cryogenic tanks for liquid hydrogen (LH2) and high-temperature PEM fuel cells. The ZA2000 system is designed to support regional turboprop aircraft with up to 80 seats, such as the ATR72 and Dash 8 400.
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| ZeroAvia ZA600 Engine Image credit: ZeroAvia |
Accelerating Clean Aviation Technology
With this collaboration, ZeroAvia and KLM aim to lead the way in demonstrating the viability of hydrogen-electric propulsion for regional flights. The project not only aims to reduce the aviation industry's environmental impact but also to pave the way for broader adoption of hydrogen-electric technology in commercial aviation.
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