ZeroAvia and Fortum to explore Hydrogen Airport Infrastructure across the Nordics

ZeroAvia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Nordic energy company Fortum to explore developing hydrogen production and refuelling infrastructure at airports in the region.

The companies will work together with a view to building a network of zero-emission flight routes.

On-airport hydrogen infrastructure can also be used to support traffic from transportation, materials handling equipment and other energy-consuming systems.

ZeroAvia is currently working on delivering zero-emission engine technology for passenger and cargo aircraft. It recently had the first successful test flight of its 19-seater testbed aircraft and has a certification target of 2025 for its 9-19-seat aircraft, and 2027 for 40-80-seat aircraft.

Fortum produces and delivers clean energy, working together with industries on their decarbonisation as part of the transition to net zero societies.

“As hydrogen hubs, airports can help reduce climate and air quality impacts of flight and a raft of other operations. Scaling the renewable energy capacity and reducing costs pose clear but fully surmountable challenges to hydrogen as the fuel to power truly clean flights. Fortum is well positioned as a partner in this space, given the company’s clean energy focus and its emerging hydrogen leadership,” said Arnab Chatterjee, VP Infrastructure, ZeroAvia. 

“ZeroAvia is a leader both in demonstrating clean flight and in building the model for how hydrogen refuelling will work in aviation. We believe that ZeroAvia and Fortum together can explore excellent options for clean aviation, both on the ground and in the air,” added Torbjörn Wilén, Senior Manager, Hydrogen Business Development at Fortum.