BPCL to develop first hydrogen-fueled VTOL aircraft ecosystem

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited has entered into a quadripartite MoU with BluJ Aerospace, the Agency for New and Renewable Energy Research and Technology (ANERT), Kerala and Cochin International Airport Limited to develop the first hydrogen-fuelled Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft ecosystem globally.

The agreement supports India’s goal of attaining Net Zero emissions by 2070 and represents a significant step in aviation innovation, said a press release. The project aims to transform urban and regional air mobility through the integration of green hydrogen-powered VTOL aircraft, enhancing speed, reducing noise, and improving efficiency while substantially cutting down carbon emissions.

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BPCL will establish hydrogen refuelling infrastructure for VTOL aircraft developed by BluJ Aerospace via its forthcoming Hydrogen Refuelling Stations in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. The company will engage in R&D focused on designing and developing an Indigenous Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Hydrogen Fuel Cell characterised by high power density to facilitate vertical lift-off, thereby advancing India’s hydrogen technology capabilities.

G. Krishnakumar, Chairman & Managing Director, BPCL said green hydrogen holds the potential to transform aviation and urban mobility. This partnership would lead in clean energy solutions that are innovative and practical for a sustainable future.

BPCL’s upcoming Hydrogen Refuelling Stations in Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi will be strategically positioned to facilitate research and pilot projects within Kerala’s Hydrogen Valley Programme. These stations will be essential in promoting commercial hydrogen applications and encouraging the wider uptake of hydrogen-powered transportation solutions.