Author: Ammira Shaheena

[Kemble, UK & Everett, WA – November 6th – 2025] — ZeroAvia today announced that its application to the Innovation Fund for a €21.4m grant to support the introduction of hydrogen-electric aircraft has been selected for grant agreement preparation. The project will support the retrofit of 15 Cessna Caravan aircraft with ZeroAvia’s ZA600 hydrogen-electric engines and the establishment of the supporting airport hydrogen fuel technologies, with operations planned to commence in 2028. 

These zero-emission aircraft are planned to replace conventional kerosene-fueled turboprops on cargo routes and expected to see in excess of 95% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The project will also work to deliver hydrogen refuelling and storage ​infrastructure at 15 airports in Norway, establishing the world’s largest network of zero-emission commercial flights. The air operators for the network will be announced in due course.

The ODIN project aims to validate the technical performance and economic case for utilizing hydrogen-electric aircraft in commercial operations, with a view to catalyzing further adoption in Norway, across the EU and further afield.  

The project proposal was found to contribute to the objectives of the EU initiative “Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP)” and meets the requirements to receive the STEP Seal. The STEP Seal is a quality label awarded by the European Commission dedicated to boosting investment in critical technologies in Europe. ​ 

ZeroAvia’s ZA600 powertrain uses fuel cells to generate electricity from hydrogen fuel without reliance on combustion, meaning that the only emission is low-temperature water vapour. ZeroAvia has already flight tested a prototype of this system, is now ground testing its final design for certification, and concurrently working with both the UK Civil Aviation Authority and US Federal Aviation Administration on certification programmes related to the engine.  

[Kemble, UK & Everett, WA – September 2nd 2025] — ZeroAvia today announced that it has completed a full flight profile ground test of its certification-intent low temperature proton exchange membrane (LTPEM) fuel cell power generation system (PGS) for the ZA600 hydrogen-electric powertrain.

The test simulated a 250 nautical mile flight in a Cessna Caravan 208b aircraft, equivalent to flying between London Heathrow and Dublin Airport. During the 2 hour and 38 minute test, the fuel cell system demonstrated stable power output and excellent performance of the balance-of-plants, with each 200kW capable module producing 170kW power for take-off, 132kW during a 23-minute climb and 83kW for a 90-minute cruise. As part of the ZA600 hydrogen-electric powertrain for up to 20 seat planes, four 200kW rated modules of the dual stack PGS will provide electrical power for ZeroAvia’s 600kW electric propulsion system, recently the subject of G-1 and P-1 issue papers from the FAA.

Each module is capable of feeding DC electrical power to four ZeroAvia 200kW rated inverters, which in turn provide AC power to one of four segments of the company’s proprietary 600kW motor design. The segregated system enables full power operation of the motor if there is failure in one leg, creating a high degree of fault tolerance.  

For the ZA600 engine, ZeroAvia has created a multi-stack balance-of-plant architecture capable of delivering 1.4 kW/kg power density. Since initial breakthrough flight tests, the company has been working to finalize the design of the certification-intent ZA600 as it works to certify with the UK CAA.  

The company also revealed today that it has been able to optimize the weight and operation of its ZA600 power generation system (PGS) through the design and development of a bespoke passive Venturi ejector device (in conjunction with supplier The Lee Company) for the recirculation of hydrogen gas within the fuel cell system.

The latest round of testing has seen the light and compact Venturi emulating the performance of a typical electrically-driven hydrogen blower, but with many advantages. Where the heavy and bulky blower system draws parasitic power from the fuel cells, the Venturi does not, boosting the overall specific power of the system. As a passive mechanical body, the Venturi also promises very low failure rates. 

ZeroAvia’s Venturi design also simplifies the certification of the system as it is reliant on the DO160G environmental qualification, as opposed to the more stringent DO254 for complex hardware that would face a system utilizing the electric blower.  

ZeroAvia’s ZA600 power generation system is the world’s first fuel cell module designed to meet CS-E and CS-23 certification requirements. The innovative balance of plant is en route to full certification and commercialization and is well advanced in the requirements validation testing campaign. 

With both core components of the powertrain now in bench testing, ZeroAvia will move to full engine ground testing of the final design in the next few weeks. The rapid progression to this milestone for the ZA600 power generation system has been made possible by ZeroAvia’s strategy to invest in world class in-house testing facilities. ZeroAvia has built a 2MW capable fuel cell test lab at its Gloucestershire R&D center. ZeroAvia’s fuel cell test lab is equipped with two bays, which has enabled testing the systems in an open frame environment, while also progressing the volume constrained, certification-intent system. 

July 15, 2025 – ZeroAvia and Horizon Aircraft – an advanced aerospace engineering company and developer of one of the world’s first hybrid eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) aircraft – today announced plans to work together on developing regional hydrogen-electric VTOL air travel.  

Together, the companies will cooperate on exploring ZeroAvia’s ZA600 hydrogen-electric powertrain for Horizon Aircraft’s Cavorite X7 eVTOL.   

The Cavorite X7’s unique fan-in-wing design incorporates 14 lift fans providing the thrust for vertical takeoff, with sliding panels which hide the fans as the aircraft transitions from hover to wing-borne flight and flies like a normal plane. For landing, it can use a normal runway, or the fans can be deployed to touchdown on a helipad, or an area the size of a tennis court. 

Horizon Aircraft has already performed untethered flight tests of a large-scale prototype, including demonstrating hover modes and transition to wing-borne flight. The company has received backing from the U.S. Department of Defense and approvals for flight testing from the Canadian regulator.   

As well as investigating the integration of ZeroAvia’s powertrain, the partnership will accelerate research into the necessary infrastructure and certification guidelines to unlock a zero-emission pathway for Horizon Aircraft.  

[@Paris Air Show: June 17th, 2025] — ZeroAvia today announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Loganair to work towards potential adoption of hydrogen-electric engines to support zero-emission flights.  

ZeroAvia is advancing certification of a 600kW hydrogen-electric powertrain for 10-20 seat aircraft with the UK’s CAA. Targeting the Cessna Caravan as the launch airframe, ZeroAvia intends to obtain additional supplemental type certificates (STCs) for other aircraft in this category, including the Twin Otter a popular airframe operated by Loganair to serve communities in the Scottish Highlands & Islands.  

ZeroAvia is concurrently developing the modular ZA2000 engine for 40-80 seat aircraft such as the ATR family of aircraft, with Loganair currently operating more than 20 of these airframes.   

Hydrogen-electric engines use hydrogen in fuel cells to generate electricity to power electric motors that turn propulsors, with the only byproduct being water. With regional turboprop aircraft operating below typical contrail formation, the in-flight emissions impact is effectively zero.  

Importantly, these novel engines promise cost reductions for airlines. The substantially lower maintenance needs of hydrogen-electric engines will mean a decrease in maintenance and downtime for an airline’s fleet, with hydrogen fuel also projected to be significantly more cost effective than kerosene over time.   

Today’s agreement cements some of ZeroAvia’s growing ties in Scotland. ZeroAvia has been in a longstanding partnership to explore airport hydrogen fuel infrastructure with Glasgow Airport and recently announced plans alongside the First Minister of Scotland to establish its hydrogen fuel cell manufacturing centre close to the airport and Loganair’s headquarters.  

[Everett, WA and Kemble, UK: May 21, 2025] — ZeroAvia today announced that it will build a major manufacturing facility for production of its hydrogen-electric powertrains at the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland, close to Glasgow Airport in Renfrewshire.  

ZeroAvia’s Hydrogen Centre of Excellence will support the company in a range of manufacturing operations relating to powertrain production and testing and will also be the company’s primary location for production of advanced high temperature PEM (HTPEM) fuel cell stacks and supporting systems. With nearly 3,000 full engine and component pre-orders agreed with airlines and OEMs – corresponding to over $10 billion in future revenues – ZeroAvia is advancing its production operations to meet demand.  

The new facility will complement ZeroAvia’s Propulsion Center of Excellence in Washington State which is focusing primarily on electric motors and power electronics. The company also has plans to expand its R&D and aircraft testing centre at Cotswold Airport in Gloucestershire. 

The project in Scotland, which will unlock millions in private investment and support hundreds of jobs over the next few years, has been made possible by a £9m Regional Selective Assistance grant from Scottish Enterprise. This follows an equity investment of £20m from the Scottish National Investment Bank into ZeroAvia as part of the company’s Series C funding, with the UK National Wealth Fund investing £32 million as a cornerstone-level investor in the round. The Series C funding round was led by Airbus, Barclays Sustainable Impact Capital and NEOM Investment Fund.

The UK Government awarded ZeroAvia and consortium partners £10.5 million to develop the advanced HTPEM fuel cells in 2024 via the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) programme in conjunction with the Department for Business and Trade and Innovate UK. The UK Government has awarded ZeroAvia £18.5 million total R&D funding since 2019 to develop their fuel cell and powertrain technology. This support alongside more than $250 million private investment has enabled ZeroAvia to make rapid progress: flying the world’s first hydrogen-electric commercial scale aircraft in 2020, more than doubling the power output to again fly the world’s largest hydrogen-electric aicraft in 2023, manufacturing and shipping fuel cell systems to customers, and securing significant regulatory traction for the certification of its powertrains. 

Scotland First Minister John Swinney and Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray spoke at an event at Glasgow Airport today (Wednesday 21 May) to launch ZeroAvia’s plans for its manufacturing facility at AMIDS. 

[Everett, WA: March 27, 2025] — ZeroAvia today announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with FlightSafety International to develop training resources for pilots and maintenance technicians to support adoption of hydrogen-electric propulsion technologies.  

The two partners aim to develop training resources, such as flight simulators and digital learning platforms, that will prepare the aviation industry for the entry of fuel cell electric aircraft, enabling faster market adoption once the aircraft receives certification.   

The two companies, in dialogue with regulators, will also explore future governance of training for new, clean alternative propulsion technologies.  

Through the flight testing of its 19-seat testbed, ZeroAvia has garnered unique experience in both pilot operations and integration as well as maintenance related to hydrogen-electric aircraft engines. In addition, through its work with more than a dozen airports on planning their future hydrogen usage, and via the in-house development of its own smart hydrogen production and mobile storage and dispensing refueling vehicles, ZeroAvia has a strong body of knowledge around airport ground operations relating to hydrogen.      

FlightSafety International has created and delivered safety-focused aviation training for nearly 75 years. It has worked with virtually every business jet and engine manufacturer to prepare pilots and maintenance technicians for every flight scenario, elevating the safety of the entire industry. 

ZeroAvia recently announced it has received an FAA G-1 issue paper for its 600kW electric propulsion system, and targets the full ZA600 hydrogen-electric powertrain for entry-in-service within the next two years, before scaling to a multi-megawatt powertrain for large regional aircraft. The company has accrued over 2,000 engine pre-orders from major commercial airlines, including American, United and Alaska Airlines, with American committing to a conditional purchase order in July last year.  

[Everett, WA and Kemble, UK, 26th March 2025] — ZeroAvia today announced that it has been named to both TIME Magazine’s Top Greentech Companies in America and TIME Magazine’s Top Greentech Companies in the World. 

ZeroAvia was ranked the number one greentech company in America by TIME in 2024, and ranks in the top 50 again this year, while ranking 81st in the world list.  

The analysis by TIME, in partnership with data firm  Statista, considered the positive impact, financial strength, and innovation of more than 8,000 companies developing products, services, or technologies to reverse the impact of human activities on the planet. The 250 top companies hail from over 30 countries on six continents. 

ZeroAvia is working closely with regulators on the certification of its ZA600 hydrogen-electric engine for up to 20 seat aircraft and developing a second engine for 40-80 seat regional aircraft. The company has over 2,000 provisional engine orders in place, with operators including American Airlines converting these to firm orders. In addition, last year ZeroAvia launched a component offering to other cleansheet innovators based on its core technologies, recently confirming a first sale of its 600kW electric propulsion system to California-based Jetcruzer.  

Over the past year, ZeroAvia has continued to accumulate significant intellectual property from its R&D activity and was named the winner of the US Patent and Trademark Office’s Patents for Humanity Green Energy Award for hydrogen. In-house development in pursuit of its full hydrogen-electric powertrains has led to step-change technologies in hydrogen fuel cell power generation, power electronics and electric motor design for aerospace.  

[Everett, WA – March 25th, 2025] – ZeroAvia today announced it has been selected by AFWERX for a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant to conduct a feasibility study focused on integrating hydrogen propulsion into Cessna Caravan aircraft alongside advanced aircraft automation technology. AFWERX awards aim to address research questions with specific implications for the most pressing challenges in the Department of the Air Force (DAF).  

ZeroAvia will analyze the potential for developing and delivering an 8,000 lb autonomous aircraft with hydrogen-electric propulsion for reduced engine noise and low thermal signature, thus significantly reducing detectability. Hydrogen fuel cells are a promising technology for improving the range, duration and turnaround time of a range of electric Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV).  

Hydrogen has additional advantages as an aviation fuel as it can be produced at point of refueling given ready supply of electricity and water, which dramatically simplifies fuel logistics – a critical consideration for any defense applications. Finally, hydrogen has the highest energy per unit of weight of any chemical energy source, which allows for potential maximum range of over 2,000 nm (almost 4,000 km) in an autonomous aircraft of this type.  

Reliable Robotics – the California-based specialists in remote operation of aircraft – will support ZeroAvia in exploring relevant autonomous flight systems as part of the study. 

The DAF began offering the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018 which expanded the range of innovations the DAF funded and ZeroAvia has started its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America. The study will explore the integration potential and operational impacts of strategically important technologies in the shape of autonomy and fuel cells.  

ZeroAvia is advancing certification of a 600kW hydrogen-electric powertrain – ZA600, which uses fuel cells to convert hydrogen fuel into electricity to power electric motors – with civil regulators. The planned first airframe is the Cessna Caravan, manufactured by Textron. The company recently announced a significant regulatory milestone after receiving an FAA G-1 issue paper for its 600kW electric propulsion system.  

[Everett, WA: 20th March 2025] — ZeroAvia has appointed former Federal Aviation Administrator Billy Nolen as a Senior Strategy & Regulatory Advisor to the company. A vastly experienced safety expert, airline executive and pilot, Nolen will work with ZeroAvia’s team to expedite the push towards certification of both its 600kW electric propulsion system and its full hydrogen-electric powertrains.

ZeroAvia recently announced a significant regulatory milestone after receiving an FAA G-1 issue paper for its 600kW electric propulsion system. The company is also working to certify its first full hydrogen-electric powertrain – ZA600 – with the UK CAA.

Nolen spent more than a quarter of a century with American Airlines, including as a pilot operating narrowbody and wide-body aircraft. His career as a pilot was followed by roles focused on safety with American, Qantas and Westjet, before he joined the FAA, first as associate administrator for safety, before quickly taking on the role of acting administrator.  

Since departing his role at the FAA in June 2023, Nolen has served as Archer Aviation’s Chief Regulatory Affairs Officer and will continue in this role, splitting his time between both of the two innovative aerospace scale-ups.   

[Everett, WA, USA: December, 3rd 2024] — ZeroAvia today announced that it has been selected as a winner of the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) Patents for Humanity Green Energy Program 2024, and the only winner in the Hydrogen category. The award recognizes innovations that address climate change through game-changing green energy technologies that are the subject of or pending a U.S utility patent.  

ZeroAvia was recognized for the totality of its patent applications covering key inventions that unlock hydrogen and electric propulsion for aircraft, enabling the use of green hydrogen as a fuel for truly clean commercial aviation. Patents include an invention that enables more efficient cooling of fuel cells without increasing drag – a longstanding challenge to their practical use to power aircraft – and an invention of novel coatings which enable high temperature PEM fuel cells that promise much higher power density. 

ZeroAvia is advancing technologies that can produce, store and use clean hydrogen efficiently, with the potential to reduce aviation greenhouse gas emissions by more than 90 percent. The company has filed 217 patent applications to date, with 31 already granted.

In addition to the impact on emissions, the development of these patents into commercially-applied technologies will lead to improved energy security, reduced air travel costs to help combat inflation, better customer and community experience thanks to cleaner air and lower noise, and the creation of thousands of skilled manufacturing jobs.

ZeroAvia has already extensively tested a prototype of its first 600kW hydrogen-electric powertrain, the ZA600, with the zero-emission engine now in the certification process with regulators. The intellectual property accrued by ZeroAvia as part of its full powertrain development has also created valuable hydrogen and electric propulsion component product lines which the company is now offering to other clean aviation innovators.    

The company has also performed advanced ground tests in the US and UK for the key building block technologies for the ZA2000 system, a 2-MW system, including cryogenic tanks for liquid hydrogen storage and proprietary high-temperature PEM fuel cell and advanced electric propulsion systems. The ZA2000 will support up to 80 seat regional turboprop aircraft such as the ATR72 or the Dash 8 400.