Ecotricity's Dale Vince OBE has signed a deal with hydrogen-electric aircraft developer ZeroAvia for 70 new hydrogen-electric aircraft engines for his brand-new venture, Ecojet.
Founded in July 2023, Ecojet aims to offer zero-emission flights by 2026 — and this latest development keeps the dream on track.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter) to announce the news, Vince said: 'We don't have to give up flying to live a green lifestyle or to get to net zero as a country — and this is big news.
'The tech is here now and the planes are coming very soon — carbon-free, guilt-free flying is just around the corner.'
ZeroAvia currently has a base in Gloucestershire, working from a hangar at Cotswold Airport in Cirencester, as well as bases in the USA. It's testing technology that uses hydrogen to generate electricity in the air, which then powers the propellers to fly the plane.
Although scientists have questioned whether this move will lead to complete zero emission flying, as making hydrogen itself can create carbon emissions through the use of electricity, Ecojet is taking a step in the right direction, with the new aircraft's only direct emission being water.
Founder and CEO of ZeroAvia, Val Miftakhov — who travelled from the USA to sign the deal in person — said: 'Clean aviation will mean increased regional air travel and new routes, Ecojet can capitalise based on their clear focus on low-emission travel.
'The UK government's Jet Zero Strategy has set a great example for the world to follow, but the UK can go much further by being early to act and introducing some of the first zero-emission routes in the world.'
For now, Ecojet is leasing aircraft with a 20 passenger capacity and using kerosene to fuel them — with the plan to fly domestic routes in 2024 in preparation for the arrival of the 70 hydrogen-electric engines, once they are aviation industry certified.
