Hydrogen-electric propulsion developer ZeroAvia has secured a new round of financing for its powertrain technology, following a significant regulatory milestone for the company.
The new capital will go toward the certification of the ZA600, a 600kW hydrogen-electric powertrain designed for 9-19 seat aircraft, such as the Cessna Grand Caravan.
The money will also support the “SuperStack Flex,” a modular fuel cell system intended for both aviation and potential defence applications.
Last month, the UK CAA granted ZeroAvia its Design Organisation Approval (DOA), a prerequisite for a manufacturer to hold a type certificate for aircraft propulsion systems. ZeroAvia is the first developer of hydrogen-electric propulsion to receive this accreditation from a major national regulator.
The financing round was led by Barclays Climate Ventures, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, and Ecosystem Integrity Fund, with additional participation from existing investors including Horizons Ventures and Summa Equity. While the specific value of the raise was not disclosed, the company said the capital extends its cash runway for the next two years.
“With Design Organisation Approval granted by the UK CAA in November, ZeroAvia is well positioned to deliver the first fuel cell systems for aviation with regulatory approvals,” the company said in a statement.
“ZeroAvia’s focus is now on pushing towards its first certification to support these opportunities.”
PHOTO: ZeroAvia
ZeroAvia’s HyFlyer II testbed aircraft, a modified Dornier 228
