The aeronautical industry is no stranger to the decarbonization process that certain sectors have undertaken for years to address climate change. Although compared to the advances made in land mobility the solutions explored in air transport are not as palpable, more and more projects and initiatives are being announced aimed at mitigating the carbon footprint of aviation.
One of the most ambitious initiatives announced so far now comes to us from Australia. The company AMSL Aero, with headquarters and testing facilities in Sydney, is working on the development of the world's first vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft designed to run on hydrogen. The aircraft, called Vertiia, is set to transform regional air transport in Australia.
The company, founded in 2017, already has an electric version of the Vertiia aircraft, a device with a range of 250 km at a maximum speed of 300 km/h. But now, after obtaining a $5.43 million grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), the startup has decided to go a little further with a new project to expand the range and versatility of the plane.
AMSL Aero is immersed in the development of a new version of Veertia, a revolutionary hydrogen-powered aircraft with a range of 1,000 kilometers. Its innovative design includes 8 tilting wings and 8 rotors, giving it the ability to take off and land similar to a helicopter.
This feature makes it a versatile vehicle, especially suitable for various applications such as emergency services, air ambulance and transportation of both goods and passengers.
The aircraft, with the capacity to carry five passengers, has been designed with the aim of providing a useful load space of 500 kg. In addition, its focus on the use of hydrogen gives it the advantage of incredibly fast refueling times, of just 10 minutes, thus outperforming all-electric prototypes.
Similarly, the Vertiia's helicopter-like design ensures remarkable operational efficiency, with costs up to 70% lower compared to a conventional helicopter.
The ambitious project aims to develop, certify and flight test the hydrogen-powered eVTOL aircraft. The company aims to carry out the first flight demonstrations of the Vertiia in 2025 and begin its commercialization in 2026. If the plane is successful, it is emerging as a highly profitable and environmentally friendly option to cover distances of up to a thousand kilometers.
The project, with a total budget of $10.86 million, has also received additional support from the Australian government through the Emerging Aviaton Technology Partnerships program. This program aims to encourage innovation and collaboration in the aviation sector.
Vertiia marks the beginning of ARENA's foray into hydrogen-powered aviation, but not the only step it has taken in the field of transportation of this fuel. Previously, this body has supported initiatives such as Ark Energy's deployment of hydrogen trucks at a zinc mine in Queensland.
