Orkney is back in the spotlight with the announcement of the £5.3 million HyFlyer project which includes BIGHIT partner EMEC and will culminate in the demonstration of a zero-emission flight out of Orkney.
HyFlyer will progress the decarbonisation of medium range small passenger aircraft by demonstrating powertrain technology, replacing conventional piston engines in propeller aircraft. The conventional powertrain in the aircraft will be replaced with electric motors, hydrogen fuel cells and gas storage. This project will demonstrate hydrogen fuel cell powertrain technology for aviation.
The recent Scottish Government announcement of the 2019-20 Programme for Government ‘Protecting Scotland’s Future’ on 3rd September 2019 set out the ambition to decarbonise scheduled flights within Scotland by 2040 and begin trialling low or zero emission planes in 2021. It aims to create the world's first zero emission aviation region in partnership with Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) who are also responsible for airport operations in Orkney.
Councillor James Stockan, Leader of Orkney Islands Council, commented that “In Orkney we are seeking to be clean, green islands. Transport is our biggest decarbonisation challenge, with our remote and rural setting placing our islanders in the position of producing a significant carbon footprint. “Initiatives like this are presenting us with opportunities to reduce this carbon footprint and support Orkney Islands Council’s climate emergency declaration. I look forward to the project progressing.”
Richard Ainsworth, Hydrogen Project Specialist at EMEC Hydrogen, added “HyFlyer is another key step in Orkney’s aim to decarbonise lifeline transport services for islanded communities. Hydrogen has the potential to help meet our emission commitments where electrons and batteries can’t. This project sees us one step closer to meeting our fuel and energy needs from abundant local renewable energy resources using green hydrogen.”
Led by ZeroAvia, developers of hydrogen fuel cell powertrain solutions, HyFlyer will demonstrate a phased approach from battery power to hydrogen power, integrating the new technology aboard a Piper M-class six-seater aircraft which will perform test flights out of Cranfield and Orkney. Project partner Intelligent Energy will optimise its high power fuel cell technology for application in aviation whilst EMEC Hydrogen, producers of green hydrogen from renewable energy, will supply the hydrogen required for flight tests and develop a mobile refuelling platform compatible with the plane.
ZeroAvia have already demonstrated their technology in flight tests in the US, and have recently set up an office in Cranfield, UK to work closely with Cranfield Aerospace Solutions (CAeS) to integrate and certify the hydrogen powertrain technology and perform initial flight tests. The project will culminate in a 250-300 nautical mile demonstration flight out of an airfield based in Orkney. Transport is Scotland's largest greenhouse gas emitting sector and the 2019-2020 Programme for Government contains actions across all modes of transport. The most recent Transport Statistics for Scotland show that domestic and international aviation were responsible for 15% of Scotland’s overall transport emissions:
Aviation is one of the fastest growing sources of global GHG emissions. HyFlyer presents a significant opportunity to decarbonise aviation in Orkney since all of the flights from Kirkwall could potentially be serviced by this new technology.