Zero Emission Fuel Cells Will Replace Kerosene In 15 Aircraft

The EU Innovation Fund has awarded a €21.4 million grant to ZeroAvia, a US-UK company, to retrofit 15 Cessna Caravan aircraft with ZA600 hydrogen fuel cell electric engines. This pilot project, part of the ODIN initiative, aims to introduce zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell aircraft into commercial operations within the European Economic Area, specifically across 15 Norwegian airports equipped with hydrogen refueling and storage facilities. The retrofitted aircraft are expected to replace conventional kerosene-fueled turboprops on cargo routes, achieving over a 95% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. This marks a significant step toward decarbonizing regional air travel and establishing the world’s largest network of zero-emission commercial flights. The project addresses the “chicken-and-egg” challenge of hydrogen fuel infrastructure, similar to early electric vehicle adoption hurdles, by developing a green hydrogen supply chain supported by the European Commission. ZeroAvia is also advancing larger fuel cell engines designed for aircraft