By signing a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Ministry of Economics, the Dutch company Fokker Next Gen is planning to develop a hydrogen aircraft project in Latvia, making a significant contribution to the development of the green energy cluster on the Kurzeme coast.
Minister of Economics Viktors Valainis: "The implementation of the project will undoubtedly significantly contribute to the development of the national economy and serve as an important step towards strengthening the modern brand of our country worldwide. The large investment, the most advanced innovative technologies, full compliance with the climate neutrality target, the close cooperation with Latvian universities - all these elements would make the construction and maintenance of hydrogen aircraft a success story for Latvia, giving a boost to the creation of a favorable environment for innovation in general. Therefore, I am committed to maintaining close contact with the project promoters and will do my utmost to ensure that there are no unjustified obstacles to the project's progress on the part of the State."
The use of hydrogen aircraft for passenger transport could serve as a promising solution for meeting the European Union's emission reduction targets in the near future.
"With this project, Fokker Next Gen will accelerate the development of hydrogen technology. This is particularly important in the context of the Elwind offshore wind park development, as it has the potential to boost future demand for hydrogen fuel," says Iveta Strupkāja, Acting Director General of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, adding that several companies have now expressed their willingness to participate in the development of the hydrogen cluster.
Fokker Next Gen plans to develop a model of hydrogen-powered passenger aircraft, which could have a capacity of 120 to 150 passengers. This type of aircraft could provisionally reach destinations up to 2 500 km away. The project is in its early stages and plans to create up to 100 new jobs in Latvia over the next three years, working in close cooperation with Riga Technical University and Kurzeme coastal municipalities.
The project has a strong emphasis on research, with work starting on the development of the Hydrogen Centre of Excellence in 2024, which will contribute not only to the project itself, but also to the development of the industry as a whole.
"As green energy projects develop, one of the challenges is how to use it efficiently. This is particularly the case where a lot of energy is produced under certain conditions, as is the case with wind and solar parks. One option is to produce hydrogen, which can then be transformed back into electricity if necessary. Therefore, it is very important for the development of the green hydrogen cluster to develop energy-intensive business sectors and attract other types of hydrogen consumers," says Strupkāja.
The offshore wind park "Elwind" will be able to provide a large amount of energy at a competitive price, which is why Ventspils and Liepāja municipalities are already working on the development of a hydrogen production and storage infrastructure that could ensure market-compliant production costs and an efficient storage system.