Clean aviation company ZeroAvia this week celebrated a new 136,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Everett, Wash., and announced it will be selling components of its hydrogen-electric airplane engines to other commercial companies.
The company is based in California and the United Kingdom but has multiple ties to the Pacific Northwest. Two years ago it established R&D operations at Everett’s Paine Field.
ZeroAvia CEO and founder Val Miftakhov hinted in a 2022 interview with GeekWire that the startup would pick the Seattle region for its manufacturing site, which it has dubbed the Propulsion Center of Excellence.
Local leaders including Gov. Jay Inslee, U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen and U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene attended the ribbon cutting.
ZeroAvia’s product line will include hydrogen fuel cells, power electronics, compressors and advanced electric motors, giving companies the option of buying full engines as well as components.
“We intend to secure as much market share for commercial aviation propulsion systems as possible as this will enhance shareholder value and ensure we deliver in tackling climate impact in the sector,” Miftakhov said in a statement.
The company is also pursuing certification for its ZA600 engine, which can power a 20-seat aircraft. It’s also developing the ZA2000 engine for aircraft up to 90 seats.
Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures is ZeroAvia’s largest shareholder and Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund has also invested. ZeroAvia has a partnership with Washington-based Alaska Airlines, which is another investor and has provided the startup with a retired plane that is being retrofit with ZeroAvia’s hydrogen-powered electric propulsion system.
Aviation is one of the more difficult industries to decarbonize. It contributes 2.5% of the greenhouse gases emitted annually, but that percentage is expected to increase as other sectors go low-carbon and air travel increases. In addition to hydrogen and battery-powered flight, many in the field are counting on sustainable aviation fuels as a climate friendly solution for air transportation.
ZeroAvia is also planning for a facility that will produce hydrogen fuel cell systems, and is looking for a suitable site.
