New Scottish Hydrogen Centre of Excellence to lead aviation fuel cell advances

ZeroAvia has announced it is establishing a Hydrogen Centre of Excellence in Scotland, with the potential to drive innovation in fuel cell technology for aviation.

The green aircraft engine developer intends to produce advanced fuel cells for hydro-electric engines for aircraft and create 350 jobs at the manufacturing base, which is scheduled to be operational by 2028.

The Hydrogen Centre of Excellence will be based at the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) in Renfrewshire, producing advanced fuel cell systems for ZeroAvia‘s hydrogen-electric aero engines.

The project has received £29m in funding from Scotland. This includes a £9m grant from Scottish Enterprise, building on the £20m earlier provided by the Scottish National Investment Bank.

ZeroAvia’s engines can reduce operating costs for airlines and can significantly reduce the carbon impact of aviation by emitting only water. The company plans to have an engine for up to 20-seat planes enter service in 2026 and it is working on a powertrain for 40-80-seat aircraft.

Scotland was selected as the innovation facility’s location because of its strong aerospace and engineering skills, alongside its growing hydrogen sector and a clear aviation strategy.

Val Miftakhov, founder and chief executive, ZeroAvia said: “The aviation industry is on the cusp of the biggest transformation since the advent of the jet age, with entirely new propulsion systems set to power the next era of aviation – cleaner flights, better economics and better experiences for all.”

Miftakhov also welcomed the grant from Scottish Enterprise and support from equity partners, saying it enabled the company “to move into another phase of manufacturing readiness as we progress towards certification of our first engines.”

On a visit to Glasgow Airport to meet ZeroAvia and other project partners, Scottish First Minister John Swinney welcomed the decision to establish the centre of excellence in Scotland.

“Scotland has the skills, the talent and the innovation to be at the forefront of efforts to tackle the climate emergency while developing significant new opportunities to grow the economy,” he said.

Swinney added that efforts will continue to attract more inward investment and bring further high-quality jobs to the country.

“Making aviation sustainable is crucial to a successful green economy and Scottish Enterprise is fully committed to backing ambitious companies with innovative ideas,” added Adrian Gillespie, Scottish Enterprise chief executive.

To learn more about hydrogen in Scotland, download the document below.