Universal Hydrogen in zero-carbon plane deals with Icelandair, others

Universal Hydrogen, a US firm that aims to do for clean fuel what Nespresso did for coffee, is poised to announce preliminary hydrogen deals with airlines including Icelandair as it looks at a possible listing as early as next year. Europe's Airbus has captured attention with a pledge to introduce 100-seat hydrogen-powered airliners by 2035. But founded by former Airbus technology chief Paul Eremenko, Universal Hydrogen aims to speed up the introduction of hydrogen for smaller regional airplanes to 2025 by using fuel cells fed by modular hydrogen capsules to replace their turboprop systems. "It is a $2.5b market on a regional scale," Eremenko estimated in an interview. Universal Hydrogen is one of a cluster of companies flocking to efforts to decarbonise aviation and says it is trying to solve a crucial problem with the clean but highly flammable fuel: how to connect production to airports where it is needed. "We are the Nespresso capsule of hydrogen. We don't grow the coffee and we don't make the coffee-maker," Eremenko told Reuters, referring to the Nestle division (NESN.S) whose capsules revolutionised premium coffee-drinking habits. In order to kickstart demand, Nespresso offered coffee makers while encouraging others to build compatible machines. "It is a similar model for us."<br/>