Stockton Metropolitan Airport has approved a lease for ZeroAvia to establish a research and development (R&D) facility focused on liquid hydrogen refuelling at the airport.
The agreement will pave the way for ZeroAvia, a leader developing in zero-emission, hydrogen-electric and electric aviation solutions, to begin operations at the airport, progressing its California Energy Commission (CEC) supported project to design, build and test first-of-a-kind rapid liquid hydrogen (LH2) refuelling vehicles for aviation and other heavy-duty applications.
The CEC-funded project will advance the commercial viability of liquid hydrogen fuelled aircraft by supporting advancements in energy performance, cost efficiency and refuelling speed.
“The arrival of ZeroAvia at Stockton Metropolitan Airport is a positive step forward for our airport and the entire Stockton region,” said Richard Sokol, Airport Director.
“As we look toward the future of aviation, we recognise the importance of supporting and collaborating with companies that are making tangible strides in green energy. ZeroAvia’s work will contribute to a more sustainable transportation industry, and we look forward to supporting their work here at the Stockton Metropolitan Airport.”
ZeroAvia CEO, Val Miftakhov, added that the airport provides an excellent environment to develop liquid hydrogen refuelling systems. “Along with high temperature fuel cells and advanced electric motors, liquid hydrogen systems are a critical building block for scaling hydrogen-electric engines into ever larger aircraft. We are leading the innovation in all three areas to deliver a clean future of flight, and our work in Stockton will be a key part of realising that mission.”
ZeroAvia has already flown multiple testbed aircraft retrofit with hydrogen and electric powertrains, including in California and recently achieved a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) milestone relating to its 600kW electric propulsion system.
Image source: ZeroAvia
