Page 46 - World Airnews Magazine April 2021

FUEL

EXPANDED HYDROGEN

PARTNERSHIP

Together the companies will complete the
hydrogen value chain for aviation

Plug Power recently announced its plans of its June 2019 acquisition of EnergyOr, a

to build five regional green hydrogen company that specialized in advanced light-
lug Power, a provider of turnkey hy- facilities in the United States. The com- weight and compact PEM hydrogen fuel cell

Pdrogen soluti ons building the global bination of low-cost renewables, strong (HFC) systems for robotics, small-scale mate-

green hydrogen economy, has expanded its capital position, and in house electrolyser rial handling, and aerospace applications.

relationship with Universal Hydrogen Co., a and liquefaction technology all uniquely “This global supply agreement for green

pioneer in hydrogen aviation. position Plug Power to build out this green hydrogen will enable us to deliver modular
The companies previously announced a hydrogen network. fuel capsules to airline operators at a price
partnership to develop a fuel cell-based “When you think about renewables at that gives them equivalent unit economics

hydrogen powertrain for regional aircraft. four cents per kW-hr, it’s clear that green to a conventional jet fuel-powered regional

The recent minority investment by Plug hydrogen can be produced at prices equiv- aircraft in 2025, with additional operating

Power will enable Universal Hydrogen to alent to or below fossil fuel based hydrogen cost savings as the cost of hydrogen contin-

complete the construction of a subscale in the near term,” said Andy Marsh, chief ues to decrease,” said Paul Eremenko, chief

aircraft powertrain by Q2 2021. In addition executive officer, Plug Power. executive officer, Universal Hydrogen.

to this strategic investment, the companies “Universal Hydrogen’s approach is a “The economics just make sense, and

further agreed to a global o�ake relation- pragmatic, near-term plan to bring green our order book speaks for itself. We're

ship that will see green hydrogen become hydrogen to one of the hardest to decarbo- thrilled to have Plug Power as a strategic

cost-competitive with jet fuel by 2025. nise sectors - air travel.” partner and now an investor as we make

Plug Power is an innovator and a leader Following a successful ground demon- carbon-free flight a near-term reality.”

in the green hydrogen economy, with stration, the teams will retrofit the The recent announcements advance Uni-
over 40,000 fuel cell systems, 150 fuelling hydrogen fuel cell powertrain into a 40-60 versal Hydrogen’s business model of using

stations deployed globally, and dispensing passenger regional aircraft, with first exper- modular capsules to distribute hydrogen

more than 40 tons of hydrogen daily. imental flights slated for 2023 and entry via the existing freight network directly

The company also has a comprehensive into revenue service in 2025. to the aircraft, with no new infrastructure

solution for generating green hydrogen in- Plug Power’s strategic investment is needed for transport or airport operations

cluding its leading electrolyser technology the company’s latest commitment to the which can accelerate adoption of the new

and liquefaction capabilities. aerospace industry following the completion technology. Q

World Airnews | April 2021
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