Australian technology developer Dovetail Electric Aviation this week announced significant funding from a Spanish government organisation.
The funding from the Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico Industrial (Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology – CDTI) is to support the first conversion of a CS-23 aircraft to hydrogen-electric power in the European Union.
Under the initiative, CDTI will grant Dovetail a significant part of its €2.5 million budget in a collaboration worth €5.6 million. Dovetail's part is to supply battery and electric propulsion systems.
Dovetail Electric Aviation CEO David Doral believes the funding provides the Melbourne-based company with an opportunity to advance development in zero-emissions flight.
"We are progressing further in our journey to realize a truly sustainable clean aviation sector, with technology that includes Dovetail’s patent pending battery pack and our proprietary Electric Propulsion System, integrating all of that with hydrogen fuel cells into a commercial airframe," he said
"CDTI’s Missions Program, that receives funding from the Next Generation EU funds, is giving us and excellent opportunity to advance in the development of these technologies, with a whole platform ready for flight and moving closer towards commercialisation.”
Spanish aeronautical company Aciturri is leading the project in consortium with Dovetail Electric Aviation and ITP Aero as the main partners.
Originally Sydney-based, Dovetail now operates from Melbourne with a satellite facility at Latrobe Regional Airport in eastern Victoria, and a base in Spain. The company is 95% Australian-owned with REX as a 20% shareholder, along with Spanish airlines Volotea and Air Nostrum.