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Thousands of Electric Aircraft Ready for Riyadh Expo 2030

FlyNow Aviation’s eCopter (Asharq Al-Awsat)
FlyNow Aviation’s eCopter (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Thousands of Electric Aircraft Ready for Riyadh Expo 2030

FlyNow Aviation’s eCopter (Asharq Al-Awsat)
FlyNow Aviation’s eCopter (Asharq Al-Awsat)

FlyNow Aviation, an urban air mobility startup from Austria, is gearing up to provide thousands of electric helicopters to enhance mobility and sustainability during the Riyadh Expo 2030.
Yvonne Winter, Chief Operating Officer of FlyNow Aviation, revealed these plans to Asharq Al-Awsat on the sidelines of the 2024 Global Forum on Electric Vehicles and Mobility Technology held last week in Riyadh.
Winter mentioned that the company is set to establish a regional headquarters in Saudi Arabia within one to two months, alongside setting up an assembly line for local production and export to global markets from within the Kingdom.
FlyNow Aviation specializes in manufacturing, operating, and developing efficient, automated electric cargo drones and taxis, leveraging cutting-edge technology to ensure reduced manufacturing and operational costs.
Winter revealed that her company developed a family of electric aircraft known as “eCopter,” consisting of two types: a single-seat version and a dual-seat version capable of carrying passengers or cargo, with a payload capacity of up to 200 kilograms.
The aircraft include a fully battery-powered version currently capable of a 50-kilometer range for safety reasons. In the future, there will also be a hydrogen-powered version and a hybrid version combining both technologies, with the hybrid version offering a range of up to 200 kilometers and a flying speed of up to 130 kilometers per hour.
Winter described the eCopter as “extremely quiet.”
She emphasized the company’s focus on introducing a system to significantly improve ground conditions, especially in tackling traffic congestion.
Winter noted that while her company is finalizing the system, their initial rollout will prioritize cargo to minimize risks.
FlyNow Aviation seeks collaboration from various stakeholders—corporations, regulators, and government bodies—to shape laws, regulations, digital infrastructure, airport facilities, insurance systems, weather checks, and more.
The company plans to continue air freight operations for goods for the next two years, transitioning to passenger transport after completing hundreds of flights to enhance flying comfort and ease concerns.
She expects swift implementation, underscoring the importance of low-altitude economics, typically involving activities focused on civil aviation vehicles.
Moreover, Winter highlighted that the automotive industry of the past century will transform into urban air mobility in the future.
Saudi Arabia is poised to lead these transformations and the new economy in line with Vision 2030, she noted.
Saudi Arabia’s successful bid to host Expo 2030 in Riyadh will serve as a platform to showcase cutting-edge innovations, technologies, and contributions addressing global challenges across various sectors.
The event anticipates welcoming 40 million visitors globally, with a budget of approximately $7.8 billion.

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Saudi Aramco Acquires 50% Stake in BHIG Hydrogen Company

Saudi Aramco signed an agreements to acquire an equity interest in the Jubail-based Blue Hydrogen Industrial Gases Company (BHIG), a wholly owned subsidiary of Air Products Qudra (APQ). (SPA)
Saudi Aramco signed an agreements to acquire an equity interest in the Jubail-based Blue Hydrogen Industrial Gases Company (BHIG), a wholly owned subsidiary of Air Products Qudra (APQ). (SPA)
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Saudi Aramco Acquires 50% Stake in BHIG Hydrogen Company

Saudi Aramco signed an agreements to acquire an equity interest in the Jubail-based Blue Hydrogen Industrial Gases Company (BHIG), a wholly owned subsidiary of Air Products Qudra (APQ). (SPA)
Saudi Aramco signed an agreements to acquire an equity interest in the Jubail-based Blue Hydrogen Industrial Gases Company (BHIG), a wholly owned subsidiary of Air Products Qudra (APQ). (SPA)

Saudi Aramco, a global integrated energy and chemicals company, signed on Tuesday definitive agreements to acquire an equity interest in the Jubail-based Blue Hydrogen Industrial Gases Company (BHIG), a wholly owned subsidiary of Air Products Qudra (APQ).

The transaction, which is subject to standard closing conditions, will also include options for Aramco to offtake hydrogen and nitrogen.

As part of its efforts to develop low-carbon hydrogen businesses and expand its alternative energy solutions portfolio, Aramco expects its investment in BHIG will contribute to the development of a lower-carbon hydrogen network in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, serving both domestic and regional customers.

Upon completion of the transaction, Aramco and APQ, a joint venture between Air Products and Qudra Energy, are expected to each own a 50% stake in BHIG.

Aramco executive vice president of strategy & corporate development Ashraf Al Ghazzawi said the investment highlights Saudi Aramco's ambition to expand its new energy portfolio and grow its low-carbon hydrogen business.

He expressed his pleasure in moving forward with APQ on this path, noting that there are promising commercial opportunities for low-emission hydrogen, and that the company aims to leverage its growing capabilities in carbon capture and storage (CCS) and its technical expertise in hydrogen to support the creation of a thriving low-carbon hydrogen market, which could help lay the foundation for the energy system of the future.

APQ chairman Dr. Samir J. Serhan stressed the company's continued expansion of its longstanding partnership with Saudi Aramco and its commitment to accelerating the growth of the hydrogen economy.

He underlined the efforts of the two companies to establish the largest hydrogen network in the Middle East, which is expected to serve the refining, chemical, and petrochemical industries, and expressed his eagerness to contribute the company's expertise in hydrogen business and pipelines and to support Saudi Aramco's efforts to secure reliable supplies of low-carbon hydrogen to meet local and regional needs.

BHIG, which is designed to produce lower-carbon hydrogen while capturing and storing carbon dioxide (CO2), intends to commence commercial operations in coordination with Aramco's CCS activities.