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ZeroAvia is a hydrogen engine developer founded by MIPT graduate Valery Miftakhov, who subsequently moved to the United States. The company creates engines for aircraft, the goal of which is to reduce carbon emissions during the flight of airliners.
History
2023: Announcement of 1.8 MW electric motor for hydrogen aviation
On May 1, 2023, the British-American developer of hydrogen-electric aircraft ZeroAvia, founded by MIPT graduate Valery Miftakhov, announced plans to create the world's largest airliner with zero emissions of harmful gases into the atmosphere.
It is reported that Alaska Airlines handed over to ZeroAvia a regional Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft designed to carry 76 passengers. This aircraft will be converted by installing a hydrogen-electric power plant ZeroAvia. At the same time, the company announced its revolutionary modular electric motor system with a capacity of several megawatts.
ZeroAvia's hydrogen-electric engine uses fuel cells to generate electricity from hydrogen fuel. This energy serves to power the electric motors that rotate the propellers. The certified ZA2000 system will include ZeroAvia PEM high temperature fuel cells and liquid hydrogen fuel storage. Another important component of the platform is advanced power electronics.
The announced modular system of the ZeroAvia electric motor has a capacity of 1.8 MW. It consists of two HyperCore units, each with a power of 900 kW. The speed of rotation reaches 20,000 revolutions per minute, which corresponds to the speed of a typical gas turbine engine. Thanks to its modular architecture, the platform can scale to 5.4 MW of power.
The first test flight of the Bombardier Q400 with the ZeroAvia power plant may take place in 2024. In terms of commercial flights, the company intends to organize flights of electric aircraft to 9-19 seats with a range of up to 480 km in 2025. By 2027, aircraft flights for 40-80 passengers with a range of up to 1100 km can begin.[1]
2021
Raising $30 million in investments
On July 26, 2022, ZeroAvia announced a $30 million investment from Barclays Sustainable Impact Capital, NEOM and AENU. At the same time, International Airlines Group (IAG) supplemented its early investments and brought the Series B financing round to $68 million.
ZeroAvia's strategic investors are three major airline groups: IAG, United Airlines and Alaska Airlines. The new investment will further develop ZeroAvia's 2-5 MW hydrogen-electric turbine development program, which aims to provide 40-80-seat aircraft with zero-emission engines by 2026. Larger aircraft will use liquid hydrogen fuel, as opposed to gas, which is used in small aircraft, which will increase specific energy, increase range and payload. If the company takes first place in this segment, it will be able to occupy a significant part of the market for engines for regional aviation.
ZeroAvia will also direct funding to build infrastructure at airports that will support live demonstration tests of its Hydrogen Airport Refueling (HARE) ecosystem in preparation for routes carrying passengers and cargo in the next few years.
Startup ZeroAvia was founded in 2017. The company is developing zero-emission aircraft turbines designed to accelerate the world's transition to green aviation. The company's turbines provide zero emission with a hydrogen fuel cell system in a limited number of seats on a fixed-wing aircraft, enabling the use of existing infrastructure and simplifying regulatory issues along with reducing fuel and maintenance costs, allowing aviation companies to reduce costs as well as reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
 | Val Miftakhov, founder and CEO of ZeroAvia, said: Each of these investors brings a unique perspective and strength to the ZeroAvia collective - from one of the world's largest airline groups, one of the largest and most historic banks, to an ambitious project to build the world's first zero-carbon metropolis as well as a net impact investor. Our new investors are looking at our path each through their own lens, but they are all inspired by our mission to deliver zero-emission flights using hydrogen-electric engines. This is a great recognition of ZeroAvia's leadership in this area, supported by real, tangible achievements.[2] |  |
Raising $35 million in investments
In mid-December 2021, ZeroAvia announced the attraction of $35 million in investments. The developer of hydrogen engines with Russian roots intends to spend these funds on the creation of a power plant with a capacity of 2-5 MW with zero emissions for larger aircraft than previously reported.
As part of the funding round, Alaska Airlines and United Airlines invested in ZeroAvia. They joined pre-existing investors in Amazon Climate Pledge Fund, AP Ventures, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Horizons Ventures, Summa Equity and Shell Ventures. In total, by mid-December 2021, about $115 million was invested in the startup.
Raised in December 2021, ZeroAvia will also spend on expanding its presence in the United States, Great Britain and continental Europe.
United Airlines plans to acquire up to 100 ZeroAvia ZA2000-RJ zero-carbon electric engines. According to CNBC, the airline intends to conclude an agreement for the supply of 50 engines with the ability to increase their number by another 50 units.
Hydrogen-electric engines are one of the most promising paths to achieving net-zero emissions for smaller aircraft, according to United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby.
| | ZeroAvia said it had made significant progress in the past few weeks towards its goal of zero-emission aviation. This investment round followed a big commercial push for the company. In particular, we are talking about cooperation with Alaska Airlines, Rose Cay, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, ASL Aviation Holdings, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Regional and Rotterdam the Hague Airport, - said Kirby, commenting on investments in a startup with Russian roots.[3] | |
Raising $24.3 million in investments
On March 31, 2021, ZeroAvia announced the raising of $24.3 million. Taking into account these investments, the total amount of funds received by the developer of hydrogen engines with Russian roots from investors has reached $74 million since its inception.
Most of all in the funding round ZeroAvia, which was announced at the end of March 2021, the startup was provided by the Horizons Ventures fund. Also participating in the deal were Ecosystem Integrity Fund, Summa Equity, Shell Ventures, SYSTEMIQ and Breakthrough Eneregy Ventures (the key investor in this fund is Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates). In addition, the airline British Airways joined the number of ZeroAvia investors, which previously began to develop joint projects with the startup. ZeroAvia's score at the end of the round was not disclosed.
| | New financing in combination with recent investments considerably will accelerate our way to decisions with zero level of emissions for larger regional planes in commercial scales, ― the CEO and the founder of ZeroAvia Valery Miftakhov comments. ― As many airlines are ready to pass to zero emissions, we expect large-scale implementation of this technology. | |
The startup intends to spend the attracted investments on accelerating the development of engines for larger aircraft with a capacity of 50 or more seats: ZeroAvia plans to enter this segment by 2026.
ZeroAvia plans to bring its products to market in 2024. The first goal of the company should be aircraft with 10-20 seats and a flight distance of 500 miles (about 800 km), used as transport for delivery in agriculture and other areas. By 2030, as the company hopes, it will be able to offer engines for aircraft with 100 passenger seats[4]
2020: Raising $37.7 million in investments
In mid-December 2020, it became known about the investment of $37.7 million in ZeroAvia. A group of investors has invested in the startup, which includes Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Amazon Climate Pledge Fund, founded by billionaires Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, respectively.
Also, the British government took part in financing the project with Russian roots, which allocated him $16.3 million. In addition, Horizons Ventures, Shell Ventures and Summa Equity funds became participants in the ZeroAvia funding round.
Tests of the first aircraft with an engine, which was developed by ZeroAvia, took place in the fall of 2020. The six-seat commercial aircraft of Piper M-class made the world's first hydrogen fuel cell flight. It took place at a research centre in Cranfield, Britain.
Applications for the use of new technology left 10 air carriers. According to the developers' plans, by 2023 the aircraft will be able to overcome 804 km, and by 2030 to double the range.
In December 2020, British Airways announced that it would be partnering with ZeroAvia. Together they plan to explore the possibilities of switching the carrier's aircraft to hydrogen fuel.
According to the founder of ZeroAvia Valery Miftakhov, the growth of hydrogen fuel production in the coming years will reduce the cost of flights. With such prices, the startup is approaching the cost of jet fuel, he said, adding that this will make hydrogen-powered aircraft more competitive.[5]
See also
Notes
- ↑ Alaska Airlines and ZeroAvia developing world’s largest zero-emission aircraft
- ↑ ZeroAvia Raises $30 Million Funding to Scale Hydrogen Aviation
- ↑ ZeroAvia raises $35M more to accelerate development of 2-5MW hydrogen powertrain; United invests
- ↑ ZeroAvia Secures Additional $24.3 Million to Kick Off Large Engine Development for 50 + Seat Zero-Emission Aircraft
- ↑ Gates and Bezos Funds Back Hydrogen-Powered Plane Startup
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