British-American hydrogen Aircraft manufacturer ZeroAvia has identified applications for hydrogen-electric, zero-emission propulsion for Regional Jet Aircraft. The company has conducted a technical study in collaboration with Type Certificate holder MHIRJ to assess the feasibility of retrofitting the CRJ 700 aircraft with ZeroAvia’s ZA 2000RJ powertrain. The study confirmed that the maximum takeoff weight, center of gravity, and structural allowance of the aircraft can support the proposed powertrain.

The study also highlighted the potential for onboard hydrogen fuel storage and powertrain integration to maintain aircraft aerodynamics. It found that by increasing the fan diameter, the loss of turbine core thrust could be overcome, and further efficiency gains could be achieved through the adoption of novel propulsor technologies such as geared, ducted electric fan or open rotor designs.

Based on the Phase 1 study, ZeroAvia made assumptions about the specific power of the HTPEM fuel cell system, with plans to achieve 3 kW/kg system-level specific power within two years. The company has already achieved a specific power of 2.5 kW/kg at the cell level of its HTPEM stacks.

ZeroAvia is currently developing a prototype ZA2000 hydrogen-electric system for regional turboprop aircraft, which will undergo testing on a Dash 8-400 aircraft with a target of certification by 2027. The company aims to enable airlines to operate zero-emission jets by the end of the decade.

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