ASL Aviation Commits to Zero-Emission Future with Hydrogen-Electric Engines
Key Ideas
- ASL Aviation Holdings signs a purchase agreement for 20 hydrogen-electric engines from ZeroAvia, aiming to create zero-emission freight aircraft.
- Hydrogen-electric engines are expected to reduce in-flight emissions by around 90% and lower maintenance costs for airline operators.
- ASL Aviation's commitment to exploring hydrogen-powered aircraft aligns with its ESG strategy focused on reducing aviation carbon emissions and promoting sustainability in air cargo operations.
- ZeroAvia's progress in developing hydrogen-electric engines is seen as a significant step towards achieving clean propulsion systems in the aviation industry.
ZeroAvia has announced that ASL Aviation Holdings has entered into a purchase agreement for up to 20 hydrogen-electric engines to retrofit its ATR regional turboprop aircraft fleet, aiming to create some of the world's first zero-emission freight aircraft at scale. The firm order of 10 engines with an option for 10 more, along with retrofit services, builds on a previous MOU between the two companies. The hydrogen-electric engines use fuel cells to convert hydrogen into electricity, resulting in no CO2 emissions and lower maintenance costs for operators.
ASL Aviation's strategy to explore hydrogen-powered aircraft aligns with its broader ESG goals to reduce aviation carbon emissions across its airline brands. The company's commitment to sustainability includes collaborating with industry partners like ZeroAvia to implement innovative technologies. ZeroAvia, focusing on electric propulsion and hydrogen-electric engines, aims to revolutionize aviation by delivering clean propulsion systems.
Key personnel from both companies expressed optimism about the partnership. James Peck from ZeroAvia highlighted the technical progress in clean propulsion systems, while Robert Somers from ASL Aviation emphasized the importance of deploying emission-reducing technologies in the air cargo market. ASL Aviation Holdings, as a global aviation services company, operates cargo services worldwide and has a diverse fleet of aircraft.
ZeroAvia, based in California with teams in Everett, WA and the UK, has made significant strides in testing hydrogen-electric engines for different aircraft sizes. The company's efforts have garnered interest from major global airlines, with a considerable number of pre-orders for engines. ZeroAvia's vision for a clean future of flight encompasses developing larger powertrains for bigger aircraft by specific timelines.
Overall, the collaboration between ASL Aviation and ZeroAvia represents a positive step towards achieving sustainability in aviation through the adoption of hydrogen-electric propulsion technologies.