PowerCell signs deal for serial delivery of hydrogen fuel cell stacks to ZeroAvia potentially worth up to SEK 1.51 billion. - Hydrogen-Central

PowerCell has signed the world’s first contract ever covering the serial delivery of hydrogen fuel stacks to the aviation industry. The client is the groundbreaking zero-emission aviation company ZeroAvia.

The agreement, potentially valued up to SEK 1.51 billion, is conditioned on ZeroAvia obtaining necessary certifications, and comprises 5,000 hydrogen fuel cell stacks with deliveries planned to start in 2024. Approximately SEK 25 million of the order value is expected to impact revenues in 2022.

The deal follows the Memorandum of Understanding which was announced 18 July, 2022. The pioneering ZeroAvia focuses on hydrogen-electric aviation solutions and aims to launch a 19-seat aircraft with 300-mile range by 2025.

ZeroAvia has already passed significant flight test milestones and has a number of key partnerships with major aircraft OEMs and major global airlines such as British Airways, United Airlines and American Airlines.

The total order value of SEK 1.51 billion is conditional on ZeroAvia obtaining necessary certifications of the powertrain. Both parties are confident that the technology will receive the necessary certification and accelerate the decarbonization of a critical industry with high emissions.

PowerCell will, upon completed aviation certifications, deliver a total of 0.5 GW fuel cells comprising of 300 kW superstack modules based on the industrialized 100 kW fuel cell stack. The fuel stacks will be used by ZeroAvia to manufacture a 600 kW, low-temperature, hydrogen-electric powertrain for the certified 19-seat, fuel cell-powered commercial aircraft.

We are proud of this serial delivery deal which shows that the demanding aviation industry, which is leading the development of hydrogen electric applications, recognizes our positioning and offering ’Industrialized Innovation’ as truly value-creating. We look forward to continue the close cooperation with clean aviation leader ZeroAvia, and the joint contribution to an aircraft fleet with zero emissions.

Richard Berkling, CEO of PowerCell

As part of the agreement, PowerCell will establish a unit in the UK for final assembly and the adaptation of the stacks to ZeroAvia’s fuel cell system and application. The new unit will give PowerCell both proximity to the customer and the significant aviation market.

We aim to power a revolution in green flight and hydrogen-electric powertrains are the only viable, scalable solution for zero-emission aviation. We are addressing a multi-billion dollar market for converting aircraft to zero-emission engines, and we need the surety of high quality LTPEM fuel cell stacks in our supply chain to meet that opportunity. This deal gives us that certainty from a provider that has formed a big part of our early designs and testing towards a certifiable system.

Val Miftakhov, founder and CEO of ZeroAvia