New 'hydrogen plane factory' to open near Glasgow Airport
The site near Glasgow Airport will make fuel cells for hydrogen-powered aircraft, using energy that is stored after production from renewable sources.
California-based ZeroAvia is to build a major manufacturing facility for the production of its hydrogen-electric powertrain fuel cells at the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland, close to the airport, in Renfrewshire, creating 350 jobs.
The firm hopes an engine that can power a 20-seat plane will enter service next year.
The company is also developing the next generation of fuel cell aircraft engines with its ZA2000 for 40-80 seat aircraft.
It said that scaling to meet the power and operational requirements for these larger aircraft requires advanced fuel cells with higher power-to-weight ratio.
READ NEXT: Popular 'cornerstone of bustling street' bar brought to market
READ NEXT: Fiancée pays tribute to 'amazing' partner who died in crash
The site has been backed by UK and Scottish governments. (Image: ZeroAvia) The high temperature fuel cells that ZeroAvia will manufacture in the Glasgow facility, expected to open in 2028, are said to be key to unlocking fuel cell propulsion for larger aircraft.
ZeroAvia said its Hydrogen Centre of Excellence will support the company in a range of manufacturing operations relating to powertrain production and testing and will also be the company's primary location for production of advanced high temperature fuel cell stacks and supporting systems.
With nearly 3,000 full engine and component orders agreed with airlines – corresponding to over $10 billion in future revenues - ZeroAvia said it is advancing its production operations to meet demand.
How the site would look. (Image: ZeroAvia) The new facility will work with ZeroAvia's Propulsion Center of Excellence in Washington State which is focusing primarily on electric motors and power electronics. The company also has plans to expand its research and development and aircraft testing centre at Cotswold Airport in Gloucestershire.
The project in Scotland, which is expected to unlock millions in private investment and support hundreds of jobs over the next few years, has been made possible by a range of funding including a £9 million grant from Scottish Enterprise.
This follows an equity investment of £20m from the Scottish National Investment Bank into ZeroAvia as part of the company's Series C funding, with the UK National Wealth Fund investing £32m as a cornerstone-level investor in round. The Series C round was led by Airbus, Barclays Sustainable Impact Capital and NEOM Investment Fund.
The UK Government awarded ZeroAvia and consortium partners £10.5m to develop the advanced fuel cells in 2024 via the Aerospace Technology Institute programme in conjunction with the Department for Business and Trade and Innovate UK. The UK Government has awarded ZeroAvia £18.5m total R&D funding since 2019 to develop their fuel cell and powertrain technology.
This support alongside more than $250m private investment has enabled ZeroAvia to make rapid progress in flying the world's first hydrogen-electric commercial scale aircraft in 2020, to more than doubling the power output to again fly the world's largest hydrogen-electric aircraft - a 19-seat Dornier in January 2023 - to manufacturing and shipping fuel cell systems to customers, and to securing significant regulatory traction for the certification of its first powertrains.
ZeroAvia founder Val Miftakhov said Scotland is well-placed in the development of hydrogen power. (Image: ZeroAvia) Val Miftakhov, founder and chief executive, ZeroAvia, said: 'Scotland has some unique advantages for ZeroAvia with strong aerospace and engineering skills, a burgeoning hydrogen sector and a clear aviation strategy with potential for early adoption of zero-emission flights. The aviation industry is on the cusp of the biggest transformation since the advent of the jet age, with entirely new propulsion systems set to power the next era of aviation – cleaner flights, better economics and better experiences for all.
'With this new facility, Scotland has a big role to play in driving this transformation. We welcome the grant award from Scottish Enterprise and the support of our equity investors that has enabled us to move into another phase of manufacturing readiness as we progress towards certification of our first engines.'
John Swinney, First Minister, and Ian Murray, Secretary of State for Scotland, are to speak at an event at Glasgow Airport for the launch of ZeroAvia's plans for its manufacturing facility at AMIDS.
Mr Swinney said: 'ZeroAvia's decision to establish a base in Scotland – creating 350 highly-skilled jobs in the process - is the perfect illustration of Scotland's growing reputation in the global transition to net zero.'
Mr Murray said that 'tens of millions of pounds of crucial investment from the UK Government is helping to develop the fuel cell technology that will be manufactured here in Scotland at this new facility'.
Adrian Gillespie, of Scottish Enterprise, said: 'It is fantastic that we've been able to attract ZeroAvia to Scotland, not only for the jobs they will be creating, but for the hugely important role they can play in ensuring Scotland maintains its reputation for fostering innovative green technologies.'V
Al Denholm, Chief Executive of Scottish National Investment Bank, said: 'Decarbonising aviation and developing our hydrogen industry are critical elements in our journey toward a net-zero economy. Having ZeroAvia's manufacturing base near Glasgow Airport will bring highly skilled jobs to the area, and we're particularly pleased to see the demand that already exists for this innovative technology.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
23 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Apple fans blast new iOS 26 update
Published: | Updated: After months of anticipation, Apple has finally unveiled its next major iPhone update - iOS 26. The design overhaul, announced at Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC), brings translucent, glass-like effects to app icons, the lock screen, and home screen. Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering, described this so-called 'Liquid Glass Design' as 'gorgeous'. However, it hasn't gone down well on social media, where users have dubbed the glass-like elements as ugly and difficult to use. 'Liquid Glass Design is the ugliest thing Apple has ever done!' one user vented. Another added: 'Apple's new glassy UI [user interface] design literally hurts my eyes to look at. The notifications are a literal eye sore.' And one vented: 'Apple has done it again; they have managed to make their UI worse than last year. 'I don't know who is in charge of the Apple aesthetics, but whomever they put in charge should be fired immediately.' The Liquid Glass update for iOS 26 is one of the biggest overhauls Apple has made to its design in recent years. It's also the first time a design has been universal across all platforms, with Liquid Glass is available on iPhone, iPad, Mac, the Apple Watch, and even on Apple TV. To reflect this unified design, Apple has also updated its software naming system to reflect the date rather than how many previous releases there have been - making all of Apple's latest software version '26'. Liquid Glass replaces Apple's standard blocky, flat icons with a dynamic theme meant to look like a 'translucent material that reflects and refracts its surroundings'. Icons, buttons, sliders, switches, text, and media controls will all be more transparent and will distort the background behind using real-time rendering. Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering, said: 'iOS 26 shines with the gorgeous new design and meaningful improvements to the features users rely on every day, making iPhone even more helpful.' However, the design change has not been met with enthusiasm by Apple's dedicated fans. One irate commenter vented: 'I'm sorry, but I just can't stand it anymore. This force-fed, ugly, bloatware-filled Apple update is a disgusting abomination.' A common complaint among Apple fans was that the new design didn't live up to the standards of sleek, intuitive design that customers have come to expect. One commenter wrote: 'Been playing with new OS since morning and it's like they left a few interns in a room with crayons. 'It's hard to put in words, but it totally lacks Apple elegance.' 'Steve Jobs would've fired everyone on that team,' another chimed in. Another commenter suggested Liquid Glass 'might be the worst UI design Apple has released yet.' While another said: 'Readability is completely hampered. I cannot read or see button clearly here. This is going to be a complete mess. Apple fans might have expected WWDC to bring some major new updates for Apple's AI offering, Apple Intelligence, after these were promised last year. But the event brought only minor updates alongside Liquid Glass including live translation for Messages, Facetime, and Phone. The update also extends visual intelligence to users' iPhone screens so they can search or take actions on anything they are viewing across apps. Users can ask ChatGPT what they are looking at or search using Google and Etsy to find similar products. iOS 26 is currently only available as a developer beta - an unfinished version of the software not for public release - with the full version expected around September later this year.
Scottish Sun
43 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Major supermarket launches dupe of viral Matilda chocolate cake for £4 less
We reveal how you can save money on your next shop at the major supermarket CHOC FULL Major supermarket launches dupe of viral Matilda chocolate cake for £4 less Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAJOR UK supermarket has launched a dupe version of the viral Matilda chocolate cake for £4 less. Tesco has unveiled its own version of Get Baked's famous "Bertha" chocolate slice for £16. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Tesco has launched a dupe version of Get Baked's viral Matilda cake for £16 Credit: TESCO 2 Get Baked's "Bertha" slice sells for £20 on its website Credit: get-baked And the dessert comes in £4 cheaper than the Leeds-based company's £20 original slice. The Bertha cake, formerly known as Bruce and now with a tweaked recipe, has taken social media by storm since its launch. Instagram and TikTok videos of people trying the cake have notched up millions of likes. Now, Tesco shoppers can't get enough of the supermarket's own version, which launched this week. Instagram account newfoodspotteruk posted about the new £16 cake, with shoppers quick to comment. Some can't wait to give the supermarket's dupe a try, with one posting: "Running to Tesco for these." Another added: "This is actually the most exciting new food post I've ever seen oh my god." A third chipped in: "Get in I can't wait to get it." But not everyone is convinced by the new arrival, with one posting: "Get Baked UK does it better. Bertha supremacy." Meanwhile, another posted: "Pass, I'll stick to the original Bertha thanks." SAVE HUNDREDS AT TESCO Tesco said the Bertha chocolate cake dupe comes with 10 servings each containing 375 calories. It is available across 480 stores in the UK while shoppers can order it online too. The cake is a permanent addition. The cake is made up of 24 layers and made by Studio Bakery. OTHER TESCO NEWS Tesco recently sparked shopper fury after axing a dinner staple from shelves. The supermarket has discontinued eight packs of own-brand beef sausages. Customers were left equally miffed after finding out Southern Fried chicken flavour noodles were axed. Confused eaters took to social media to find out where the popular snack had gone. Writing in a Reddit thread one shopper said: "These are my go to quick food and my local Tesco has none on the shelf and they've disappeared off of the website too. "I'll be gutted if they've discontinued them." Another fan replied: "Probably, if you liked them, these stores always stop what people like." Meanwhile, Tesco customers have been taking to social media to reveal how they're getting free items by checking receipts. How to save money at Tesco EVERY little helps when it comes to saving money at Tesco. The Sun's Head of Consumer Tara Evans explains how you can save money at the UK's biggest supermarket. Clubcard points Tesco first launched it's loyalty scheme back in 1995. You get one point for every £1 you spend in store. If you spend points in store then 100 points is worth £1. You can spend your points via its reward partners and get triple and even sometimes quadruple the value. Extend Clubcard points You can find lost Clubvcard points and find the last two years of unused vouchers by logging into the Tesco Clubcard site. Clubcard prices If you don't have a Clubcard then you will miss out on its cheaper Clubcard prices. However, don't forget to check prices before you shop because it might not be cheaper than elsewhere, especially on big value items like washing powder and loo roll. Yellow stickers Shops do vary the time they reduce groceries with yellow stickers but Tesco tends to be between 7pm and 9pm. Save money if you shop online If you get your Tesco food shop delivered then it might be worth buying a delivery saver pass to help cut the cost of delivery fees. If you live near a Tesco then you can get click and collect slots of as little as 25p, so it might be cheaper than getting your food delivered. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
Scotsman
43 minutes ago
- Scotsman
Scottish Government calls in Flamingo Land plans for Loch Lomond
Controversial proposals included two hotels, more than 100 lodges, a waterpark and a monorail Sign up to our Scotsman Rural News - A weekly of the Hay's Way tour of Scotland emailed direct to you. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Scottish Government has called in plans for a major development on the banks of Loch Lomond, reversing a previous decision. Through the firm Lomond Banks, the Yorkshire-based theme park operator Flamingo Land planned to build two hotels, more than 100 lodges, a waterpark and monorail on the site at Balloch, West Dunbartonshire. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad An illustration showing what Flamingo Land at Loch Lomond would look like | Contributed In a long-running saga, plans were initially scrapped in 2019 following substantial opposition from the local community and agencies such as the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa), the Woodland Trust and the National Trust for Scotland. Revised plans were later unanimously rejected by the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park authority, but an appeal by Lomond Banks was granted by a Scottish Government reporter, who placed 49 conditions on the developer and forced them to reach an agreement with the authority before construction could start. Despite urging from MSPs, Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee had resisted calls for ministers to intervene in the decision to allow the plans to go forward, but it was announced on Tuesday evening that they would. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I have decided to recall the Lomond Banks appeal as the proposed development raises issues of national significance in view of its potential impact on Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park,' the minister said. 'This means that the appeal should be determined at a national level.' Mr McKee had previously said there were 'technical planning issues' at play in the application, adding that it was appropriate for 'objective planning judgment' to be applied in the case and as a result, the Government would not call in the application. Following the minister's comments, a Scottish Green-led campaign claimed more than 50,000 people had written to him to urge a change of direction. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The decision comes the day before Scottish Labour was due to lead a debate calling for the Government to intervene in the application, with the party's deputy leader Jackie Baillie claiming on X ministers feared being defeated. 'The SNP face a motion tomorrow from Scottish Labour demanding that the application is recalled,' she said. 'Thanks to cross party support for our motion, the SNP has u-turned before it was defeated in the chamber.' Responding to the news, Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer said it was the 'right move'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The evidence of the damage it would do to one of Scotland's most iconic locations is overwhelming,' he said. 'Once ministers consider the flood risk, loss of ancient woodland, hundreds of additional cars which would be brought onto notoriously congested roads and the litany of other devastating impacts it would have, I am sure they will reject the mega-resort application and finally end this decade-long saga. 'People across Scotland expect their Government to protect our natural heritage.
