MONTREAL, May 21, 2024/CNW/ -Airbus and ZeroAvia have signed three respectiveMemorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Canada's three busiest airports,Montréal–Trudeau International Airport (YUL), Toronto PearsonInternational Airport (YYZ) and Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to studythe feasibility of hydrogen infrastructure at airports inCanada. The press event took placeat the International Aerospace Innovation Forum, organized by AéroMontréal.
This is the first time that a feasibility study of thismagnitude has taken place in Canada to pioneer hydrogen for aviation, withthe three airports. It reflects the partners' shared ambition touse their respective expertise to support the decarbonisation ofthe aviation industry (ICAO, ATAG and IATA) and to achieve net zerocarbon emissions by 2050.
Air transport is prime in the country because of its wide-spreadgeography. Not only does it connect to international cities but isalso an important means of supplying critical connectivitydomestically. Commercial flights in Canada enable the flows of goods, investments,people and ideas that are the fundamental drivers of economicgrowth. Air transport in Canada isforecast to grow by 51% in the next 20 years under the "currenttrends" scenario. This would result in an additional 39.8 millionpassenger journeys by 2037. (Source IATA Economics)
This cooperation will provide better understanding of hydrogenaircraft concepts and operations, supply, infrastructure andrefueling needs at airports, with the goal of developing thehydrogen aviation ecosystem across the country.The work willalso collaborate to support the development of regulations andstandards. Montreal is the homecity of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) andcollaboration is a key driver to support a global framework.
"Canada is one of the mostpromising regions for hydrogen hubs due to its natural resources.Canada has great potential forhydrogen production from renewable energy sources such ashydroelectric power. These first Canadian hydrogen partnershipsenable us to cover the country from coast to coast. Hydrogen standsout as a key enabler as we pioneer a sustainable aviation future.We are very pleased to enter into this cooperation with partnersfully engaged to take significant steps towards decarbonisingaerospace. It fits perfectly with our strategy of deployinghydrogen aviation ecosystems in the most suitable parts of theworld, now including NorthAmerica", said Karine Guenan, Vice-President of ZEROeEcosystem.
Val Miftakhov, Founder and CEO, ZeroAvia, said: "We are bringingtogether Canada's largestairports, the world's largest aircraft manufacturer and the leadinginnovator in decarbonised propulsion technology, in order toprogress the transition to hydrogen aviation. ZeroAvia flighttesting demonstrates that hydrogen-powered commercial aviation is aprospect ahead of 2030, so we need to start working hard to preparefor the hydrogen infrastructure needed to support the aviationindustry and airports as they step into a new golden age of cleanflight."
Yves Beauchamp, President and CEOof ADM Aéroports de Montréal, said: "ADM is committed todecarbonizing airport operations and improving air quality at itsYUL and YMX sites. The use of hydrogen as a fuel for aircraft is aforward-looking solution that fits perfectly with these goals. Thispartnership will allow our organization not only to better preparefor the introduction of this alternative in our airport operations,but above all to adequately plan the infrastructure required tooffer it at YUL as early as 2035. As Montréal is the world's civilaviation capital, we are all the more proud that our city isplaying a leading role in this sustainable innovation project."
"Toronto Pearson is committed to making our own operations andthose of the larger aviation industry more sustainable. Ourpartnership with Airbus and ZeroAvia is an extension of our ongoingefforts to adopt clean energy solutions, including the constructionof our new hydrogen filling station,'' said Deborah Flint, President and CEO of TorontoPearson. "The future of airports and their aviation partners willbe built with innovative infrastructure that minimizesenvironmental impact."
"We know when it comes to climate change, aviation isn't theenemy, carbon is. Looking into the feasibility of airports asHydrogen Hubs is an important step on the journey to net zerocarbon emissions," said TamaraVrooman, President and CEO at Vancouver International Airport. "Thecollaboration between Airbus, ZeroAvia and the three biggestairports in Canada will helpidentify the changes required in our industry and supportingecosystem to meet carbon reduction goals."
The use of hydrogen to power future aircraft is not onlyexpected to significantly reduce aircraft emissions in the air, butcould also help decarbonise air transport activities on the ground.In 2020, Airbus unveiled the first ZEROe concept with the ambitionto bring to market the world's first hydrogen-powered commercialaircraft by 2035. The development of the corresponding technologybricks is now underway in a global Research & Technologynetwork.
Airbus also launched the "Hydrogen Hub at Airports" programme tojumpstart research into infrastructure requirements and low-carbonairport operations, across the entire value chain. To dateagreements have been announced with partners and airports in tencountries including France,Germany, Italy, Japan,New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, SouthKorea, Sweden and theUnited Kingdom. ZEROe wishes todevelop its hydrogen visibility and partnership network inNorth America. Therefore, there isa strong need to recruit partners in the region.
ZeroAvia has an active certification application for apowertrain (ZA600) for 10-20 seat aircraft, targeting market entrywithin the next couple of years, and is also developing a secondengine (ZA2000) for 40-80 seat aircraft to follow soon after. Inaddition, the company is working to develop the hydrogen fuelecosystem to support these clean propulsion systems at airports bydeveloping unique production, storage and dispensing technologies,and by working with airport partners to plan for hydrogenoperations in the near future.
Airbus has been in Canada for40 years with more than 4,500 people working at the ten sites andoffices of Airbus and its subsidiaries sourcing around C$2 billion annually from Canadian companies.Canada is also home of the A220aircraft, where its main final assembly lines, pre-assembly lineand main programme, engineering and customer services offices arelocated in Mirabel, Quebec.
To find out more about hydrogen and decarbonisation, visitairbus.com
SOURCE Airbus
