Photo: Evia Aero
Evia Aero is a name worth remembering. This German company will soon conduct trailblazing green operations in multiple locations centered around all-electric and hydrogen-electric aircraft that aren't eVTOLs (vertical take-off and landing). Most recently, it acquired stakes in a promising airport company focused on sustainability, and together, the two are building a solar plant for all-electric operations.
The Bremen-based Evia Aero is no ordinary aviation operator. It wants to handle everything from generating clean energy to storing it and managing the actual flight operations. No other airline in Europe promises what Evia Aero does – a future fleet consisting entirely of battery-electric and hydrogen-electric fixed-wing aircraft. It has already committed to purchasing 25 electric aircraft and 25 hybrid ones, which will operate as nine-seaters with a range of up to 500 km (310 miles).
These green aircraft will come from the US and the UK. The German operator bought them from the US-based Eviation and the UK-based Cranfield Aerospace Solutions.
Knowing Evia Aero's big plans, there could be no better partner than Redstone Aero. This Finnish airport developer and operator, in which Evia now has stakes, wants to implement an innovative concept based on sustainability. The Helsinki East Aerodrome, located 60 minutes southeast of Helsinki, is set to become the prototype for what Redstone calls "a sustainable digital airport."
This new airport concept will combine aviation operations based on clean energy with the latest technological developments. The ultimate goal is to have multiple airports like this spread across Finland and Europe.
For now, Redstone and Evia are focusing on a 50 MW solar plant. The output will be used mainly to charge the electric aircraft fleet but also to power all of the airport operations. The partners claim there will even be enough energy to supply other industrial companies in the region.
This solar plant will be just the beginning. Evia will later add charging stations and buffer batteries for intermediate storage. During a later phase, small electrolyzers will also be added for refueling the hybrid-electric aircraft.
The only bad part is that it will take two years just to complete this new solar plant. Still, the German airline is confident it will be ready to start commercial operations as soon as 2026.
Alice, the future aircraft that will operate at Helsinki East Aerodrome, is a US-made nine-seater powered by a magniX 640 kW electric propulsion system. It promises a top speed of 250 knots (287 mph/461 kph) coupled with a moderate range of 440 nautical miles (506 miles/814 km) and a 2,500 lb (1,130 kg) payload.
Last year, when Evia Aero agreed to purchase 25 Alice units, it confirmed its plans to integrate them into an electric eco-system based on locally sourced energy and solar power plants based at the airport.
These green aircraft will come from the US and the UK. The German operator bought them from the US-based Eviation and the UK-based Cranfield Aerospace Solutions.
Knowing Evia Aero's big plans, there could be no better partner than Redstone Aero. This Finnish airport developer and operator, in which Evia now has stakes, wants to implement an innovative concept based on sustainability. The Helsinki East Aerodrome, located 60 minutes southeast of Helsinki, is set to become the prototype for what Redstone calls "a sustainable digital airport."
This new airport concept will combine aviation operations based on clean energy with the latest technological developments. The ultimate goal is to have multiple airports like this spread across Finland and Europe.
For now, Redstone and Evia are focusing on a 50 MW solar plant. The output will be used mainly to charge the electric aircraft fleet but also to power all of the airport operations. The partners claim there will even be enough energy to supply other industrial companies in the region.
This solar plant will be just the beginning. Evia will later add charging stations and buffer batteries for intermediate storage. During a later phase, small electrolyzers will also be added for refueling the hybrid-electric aircraft.
The only bad part is that it will take two years just to complete this new solar plant. Still, the German airline is confident it will be ready to start commercial operations as soon as 2026.
Alice, the future aircraft that will operate at Helsinki East Aerodrome, is a US-made nine-seater powered by a magniX 640 kW electric propulsion system. It promises a top speed of 250 knots (287 mph/461 kph) coupled with a moderate range of 440 nautical miles (506 miles/814 km) and a 2,500 lb (1,130 kg) payload.
Last year, when Evia Aero agreed to purchase 25 Alice units, it confirmed its plans to integrate them into an electric eco-system based on locally sourced energy and solar power plants based at the airport.
Google News