Finland-based airport developer and operator Redstone Aero and Germany-based sustainable aviation company Evia Aero are jointly developing a 50 megawatt PV plant at Helsinki-East Aerodrome so as to produce green electricity that can be used to charge electric aircraft, ensure the airport's operations are independent and sustainable, and also supply regional industrial companies.

Evia Aero CEO Florian Kruse says: "Helsinki-East Aerodrome is the first airport in Europe where we are implementing our sustainable value chain with our partner."

After receiving the building permit and construction of the grid connection, the project partners expect the PV plant to be operational within 24 months. In further project steps, electric charging stations for aircraft, buffer batteries for intermediate storage and small electrolysers will also be built at the airport in order to be able to refuel hydrogen-electric aircraft.

The total investment volume is estimated in the mid double-digit million range, and in addition to a joint energy company for the construction of the PV plant based in Finland, Evia Aero will also participate in the airport itself.

"We are convinced of the Helsinki-East master plan," says Kruse. "With our participation, we can optimally contribute our expertise on the topic of sustainability and aviation."

Redstone Aero has two main projects: Helsinki Regional airport and digital airport network operations. Helsinki East Aerodrome, located 60 minutes southeast from Helsinki, serves as a hub for the national aviation industry, unscheduled air traffic and future aerospace development. It is a prototype for a sustainable digital airport; a concept that can be duplicated to other aerodromes.

“Evia Aero's master plan fits perfectly to the mission of Redstone Aero and Helsinki East Aerodrome, where we develop new sustainable and effective business models using the latest technology. These can be used also at other airports and airfields, enabling new flight connections with suitable size of aircraft to meet the travel needs”, says Redstone CEO Esa Korjula.

Evia Aero covers the entire value chain of sustainable aviation from decentralised energy generation with photovoltaic systems, generation of hydrogen with electrolysers to energy storage as well as flight operations. With a focus on regional business, the future airline will offer a point-to-point route model with multiple daily connections. It has signed LOIs for 25 Eviation Alice electric aircraft and 25 hydrogen hybrid aircraft from the UK's Cranfield Aerospace Solutions.