ZeroAvia solidifies agreements for ZA600 hydrogen-electric engines

This week, ZeroAvia (Hollister, Calif., U.S.) cemented an agreement with two companies to provide ZA600 hydrogen-electric engines, in an effort to decarbonize aviation. Its existing memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Monte Aircraft Leasing (London, U.K.) for up to 100 engines has been converted to a Definitive Purchase Agreement, while ZeroAvia signed a new agreement with French renting company Green Aerolease (Guipavas). As ZeroAvia begins to plan for its production facilities, a good proportion of initial manufacturing capacity is now under commitment.

According to Monte, the regional turboprop aircraft lessor is now well positioned to seize significant market share in zero-emissions regional turboprop aircraft leasing. Both companies aim to retrofit 9-19 seat aircraft with ZA600 powertrains for airline operators starting in 2025, while also providing financing, infrastructure, maintenance and hydrogen availability services to support these operations.

ZeroAvia is working to certify ZA600, a 600-kilowatt powertrain designed to support 9-19 seat aircraft, with the Cessna Grand Caravan planned as the launch airframe (for more details, read, “ZeroAvia advances to certify ZA600 in 2025, launch ZA2000 with liquid hydrogen in 2027”). With the first phase of prototype flight testing almost complete, the company is on track to meet its 2025 certification timeline.

“As well as the technical and design milestones we are clearing, in tandem we are making commercial progress, which means that operators will be able to fly lower cost, truly clean aircraft, sooner,” James Peck, chief customer officer, ZeroAvia, notes. “Given its pure play focus on decarbonization, Monte is a great partner for us and we believe they will be at the forefront of enabling these early green operations in a growing market.”

Similarly, Green Aerolease plans to deploy the ZA600 powertrains in its lessor fleet, as an example with French airline, Finistair, which will look to deploy them to power its own zero-emission routes, in particular from Brittany, including Brest Bretagne airport. 

“Finistair already provides vital connectivity to remote communities, and implementing zero-emission technology can help the business expand its operations,” Peck adds. “As an early mover in signing a pre-order for hydrogen-electric Green Aerolease’s customer set, have an opportunity to capture market share.”

For smaller regional operators, zero-emission flight can be a big growth opportunity as well as a solution for emissions impact. ZeroAvia predicts a steep reduction in operating costs thanks to the reduction in maintenance required and lower fuel costs as green hydrogen production matures. A report by NASA suggests that reductions in operating cost of around 40% can lead to a “huge expansion” of demand for regional flight.