A Dutch-made hydrogen-powered plane. That's what the company Fokker Next Gen is working on. Using the plane, the company wants to be able to transport passengers across Europe in a CO2-neutral way.
The company plans to launch its hydrogen-powered plane in 2035. The design of this plane is based on the Fokker 100. The plane should enable flights of up to 2,500 kilometres on hydrogen. In practice, this means reaching all destinations within Europe in a CO2-neutral way.
'Opportunities were not so great before'
Director Juriaan Kellermann, speaking to the Nederlands Dagblad, points to the momentum for CO2-neutral flying that currently exists. "The opportunities were not so great before," he says.
This is an ambitious plan, which requires a lot of money. For instance, Kellermann expects to have to raise billions of euros in total from investors. With this, Fokker Next Gen wants to make its seaplane a reality and set up a production line to produce 150 aircraft on an annual basis.
EUR 27.5 million in subsidies
The company so far raised €27.5 million in subsidies in both the EU and the Netherlands. Last year, for instance, it secured a European grant. Using this, Fokker Next Gen is working with aircraft engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce on an aircraft engine that can run on hydrogen.
The company also received a grant from the National Growth Fund last year. Fokker Next Gen is using this money to work with Fokker Services, Rolls-Royce and others to convert a Fokker 100 for hydrogen.
Kellermann points out to the Nederlands Dagblad the importance of such subsidies. According to him, these are necessary to win over big investors; without subsidies and proof that flying on hydrogen is feasible, they will not want to step in any time soon.
Production in the Netherlands
Fokker Next Gen wants to manufacture the hydrogen-based Fokker in the Netherlands. Here, Kellermann points to the large investments in hydrogen from the Netherlands, including in Rotterdam and Groningen. In the long term, Kellermann does not rule out assembly also taking place in another country.
The company is currently working on a first example of the converted Fokker 100, which should take to the skies for the first time in 2027. The company will then develop this initial design further with Rolls-Royce and Fokker Services. Both Fokker Next Gen, Fokker Services and Fokker Techniek are part of investor Jaap Rosen Jacobson's Panta Holdings.
Hydrogen, paraffin and Sustainable Aviation Fuel
By the way, the Fokker 100 being worked on should not only be able to fly on hydrogen, but also on paraffin and so-called Sustainable Aviation Fuel, a sustainable aviation fuel based on waste and residues. Besides sustainability, the design also focuses on reduced noise production and increased efficiency as well as sustainable production, maintenance and ultimately recycling.
Fokker Next Gen is not the only party working on a new design based on Fokker 100. Rekkof - now Netherlands Aircraft Company - is also working on such a design. The emphasis here is on an energy-efficient design, with the aim of reducing the aircraft's consumption. The Ministry of Economic Affairs made a grant of 20 million euros available. A prototype should have been ready as early as 2013, but was delayed. Then, the revamped Fokker - the 130NG - was supposed to take to the skies from 2020. However, this deadline was also missed. Like Fokker Next Gen, Fokker Services and Fokker Techniek, Netherlands Aircraft Company is also owned by investor Jaap Rosen Jacobson.
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
Photo: Free-Photos via Pixabay
