Germany-based EVIA AERO and the Romanian Banat Airport Caransebes have signed a memorandum of understanding for the joint development of energy systems for sustainable aviation.
The aim is to create the necessary infrastructure at the airport for sustainable and therefore future-proof aviation with electric and hydrogen aircraft. This will start with the construction of a 49-hectare photovoltaic plant (62 megawatts of power) on the airport site. This lays the foundation for the production of green electricity, the basis for environmentally friendly flights with electric aircraft. The company's own production of green hydrogen will then gradually follow and the project will be rounded off with storage stations and hydrogen and electricity refuelling stations. In future, the green energy generated will not only be available to EVIA AERO aircraft, but also to other airlines that operate electric or hydrogen jets. Electrified ground handling and drone projects will also benefit from the planned production and storage options.
The company created by the joint venture between EVIA AERO and Banat Airport Caransebes is responsible for project development and applying for EU funding. The go-ahead will be given this year with the submission of building applications, with construction scheduled to begin in 2025 and the photovoltaic system to be completed in 2026.
Florian Kruse, founder and CEO of EVIA AERO, comments on this milestone: "We are
delighted that, after around six months of negotiations, we now have a strong partner
in Romania in Daniel Olariu and Banat Airport Caransebes, who are working with us
to further promote sustainable aviation. This makes Banat Airport a "green" pioneer in
Romania and we are proud to be able to participate in the economic development of
this region. We currently expect to build the necessary infrastructure by the end of
2026 and launch our low-emission flights in Romania in 2027. Routes are planned to
the Romanian capital Bucharest, Tuzla on the Romanian Black Sea coast and Chisinau
in Moldova."
Daniel Olariu, CEO of Banat Airport Caransebes, said: "The airport, the city of Caransebes
and myself are proud to have signed the joint venture with EVIA AERO and to be the
first Romanian airport to lay the foundations for sustainable aviation, creating more
than 30 jobs in the mid-term. In just a few years, EVIA AERO will be operating
passenger flights with electric and hydrogen aircraft throughout Europe, and we are
now also creating the necessary infrastructure for this at Banat Airport Caransebes."
