ZeroAvia CEO Val Miftakhov has announced they will build a Hydrogen Centre of Excellence and a manufacturing facility near Glasgow Airport. The project is funded by Scottish Enterprise and the United Kingdom (UK). John Swinney, Scotland’s first minister and Ian Murray, the UK Government Secretary of State for Scotland, are in support of the project.
Manufacturing Facility in Glasgow
The manufacturing facility is for its hydrogen electric powertrains at the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland, close to Glasgow Airport in Renfrewshire. The announcement mentioned that ZeroAvia Hydrogen Centre of Excellence will be the primary location for production of advanced high temperature PEM (HTPEM) fuel cell stacks and supporting systems. The new facility will complement ZeroAvia’s Propulsion Centre of Excellence in Washington state, which is mostly focused on electric motors and power electronics. The centre will also support the manufacturing facility in operations relating to powertrain production and testing.
Scottish minister John Swinney, said:
“Scotland has the skills, the talent, and the innovation to be at the forefront of efforts to tackle the climate emergency while developing significant new opportunities to grow the economy. ZeroAvia’s decision to establish a base in Scotland – creating 350 highly-skilled jobs in the process – is the perfect illustration of Scotland’s growing reputation in the global transition to net-zero. By setting out a strategic vision in priority areas such as hydrogen, we are sending a clear statement to investors and businesses that Scotland is at the heart of the green energy revolution. The Hydrogen Centre of Excellence will be at the forefront of fuel cell technology and offers a hugely promising and exciting proposition for sustainable aviation.”
ZeroAvia mentioned that they are advancing production operations to meet future demands. The announcement mentioned that about 3,000 full engine and components have been pre-ordered and agreed with airlines and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) that are worth over $10 billion in future revenue. The company also has future plans to expand its R&D and aircraft testing centre in Cotswold Airport in Gloucestershire.
Val Miftakhov, founder and chief Executive at ZeroAvia, added:
“Scotland has some unique advantages for ZeroAvia with strong aerospace and engineering skills, a burgeoning hydrogen sector and a clear aviation strategy with potential for early adoption of zero-emission flights. The aviation industry is on the cusp of the biggest transformation since the advent of the jet age, with entirely new propulsion systems set to power the next era of aviation – cleaner flights, better economics and better experiences for all. With this new facility, Scotland has a big role to play in driving this transformation. We welcome the grant award from Scottish Enterprise and the support of our equity investors that has enabled us to move into another phase of manufacturing readiness as we progress towards certification of our first engines.”
The announcement said the project was made possible by a £9 million Regional Selective Assistance grant from Scottish Enterprise including an equity investment of £20 million from Scottish National Wealth Bank as a part of the companies’ Series C funding. The UK National Wealth Fund invested £32 million as a cornerstone level investor in the round. Leading the Series C funding are Airbus, Barclays Sustainable Impact Capital and NEOM investment fund.
Adrian Gillespie, chief executive at Scottish Enterprise, said:
“It is fantastic that we’ve been able to attract ZeroAvia to Scotland, not only for the jobs they will be creating, but for the hugely important role they can play in ensuring Scotland maintains its reputation for fostering innovative green technologies. Making aviation sustainable is crucial to a successful green economy and Scottish Enterprise is fully committed to backing ambitious companies with innovative ideas. ZeroAvia’s decision to come to Scotland is a real boost to our energy transition leadership, as well as being a further example of why Scotland is such a great place for inward investment.”
The UK government awarded ZeroAvia and consortium partners £10.5 million to develop the advanced HTPEM fuel cells in 2024 via the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) programme. This is in conjunction with the Department for Business and Trade and Innovate UK. Since 2019 the UK government has awarded ZeroAvia a total of £18.5 million R&D funding to develop their fuel cell and powertrain technology. These investments reflect the UK’s commitment to achieving net-zero by 2050. All the investment in ZeroAvia including private investment worth $250 million has greatly boosted the company’s progress.
Sarah Jones, UK government industry minister said:
“This is a major vote of confidence from ZeroAvia in both our modern and Industrial Strategy and Scotland’s thriving advanced manufacturing sector, which will create good, well-paid jobs working on the green technologies for the future. Made possible with support from the UK Government, this is testament to how industry and government can work together to drive investment, growth, and jobs in every corner of the UK, showing our Plan for Change is working.”
Ian Murray, Scottish secretary, also said:
“Crucial investment from the UK Government is helping to develop the fuel cell technology that will be manufactured here in Scotland at this new facility. It will create and sustain hundreds of skilled Scottish jobs, help achieve our net-zero goals and boost the economy. This is a key part of our Plan for Change. ZeroAvia’s expansion in Renfrewshire underlined everything that our Brand Scotland campaign champions – promoting Scotland’s goods, services and skilled workforce worldwide. I’m delighted to see this project move forward. It is a perfect example of the UK and Scottish Governments working together to drive innovation and manufacturing in Scotland.”
ZeroAvia
Founded in 2017 by Valery Miftakhove, ZeroAvia is a British/American hydrogen electric aircraft developer. The company is developing hydrogen electric engines and refuelling solutions, including the supply of electric propulsion components for novel battery, hybrid, and hydrogen electric aircraft applications. In 2019 the company flew their first electric powered six seat aircraft at their base in Washington, US. In 2020 the company operated their first hydrogen-electric powered commercial aircraft at their base in Cranfield, England. The aircraft was a Piper M-Class powered by hydrogen fuel cells and lithium-ion Battery. Since this accomplishment, the company has been aiming for larger aircraft such as the 19 seat Dornier 228.
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