Hydrogen-electric aircraft developer ZeroAvia and hydrogen storage and refuelling startup Verne have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly collaborate on evaluation opportunities for using cyro-compressed hydrogen onboard aircraft. The partnership will also look at conducting cryo-compressed hydrogen refuelling from gaseous and liquid hydrogen sources.
ZeroAvia and Verne will assess the potential benefits of scaling CcH2 storage and refuelling infrastructure at airports across the world, as hydrogen-electric propulsion scales to support larger aircraft. The two companies will also work together to develop a model for initial airport locations in California.
“With our engines just a few years from flying passengers and cargo, it is important for us that we find the optimal solutions to support airport hydrogen ecosystems,” said ZeroAvia chief business officer Sergey Kiselev. “Increasing storage capacity and refuelling speed using novel technologies is an important avenue for scaling up hydrogen aviation.”
Verne CEO and cofounder Ted McKlveen added: “Airports can be centres of hydrogen activity, with co-located hydrogen demand for aircraft, airport ground operations, and on-road commercial transportation. Cryo-compressed hydrogen has a key role in optimising this ecosystem.”
Verne has already developed large hydrogen storage systems exhibiting 4 MWh of storage.