The Orkney-based HyFlyer project aims to demonstrate hydrogen fuel cell powertrain technology for zero-emission aviation.
An electric powertrain is set to be installed on board a Piper M-class six-seater aircraft, which will perform initial tests flights from Cranfield airfield in Bedfordshire, before moving to Kirkwall on the island of Orkney for further tests.
Meanwhile, EMEC Hydrogen is investigating the infrastructure needed to support the test flights. As such it this week awarded the contract for refuelling to FCS, a consultancy and distributor of fuel cell technologies.
The company is to design and operate a new mobile hydrogen refuelling vehicle specifically for the HyFlyer project, based on its existing HyTruck design, which has been used by the Metropolitan Police for a trial of fuel cell-powered scooters.
Tom Chicken, chief technology officer at FCL, said: "Providing fuel at the correct pressure, purity, quantity and place is a vital enabler to maximise the opportunity presented by hydrogen. HyTruck delivers on all these fronts and is an important part of our spectrum of mobile refuelling products."
Richard Ainsworth, hydrogen project specialist at EMEC Hydrogen, said: "This collaboration will see further integration of hydrogen infrastructure on Orkney and support the decarbonisation of lifeline transport services."
The news comes in the same week as Canadian seaplane operator Harbour Air successfully completed the first test flight of its six seater electric seaplane as part of its plans to become the world's first zero emission airline.
