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Elfly Group, the Norwegian aviation company building an all-electric seaplane Noemi, signed a letter of intent with the Lofoten Green Islands, a private-public partnership for sustainable development, on Dec. 13.With this agreement, Elfly and Lofoten will pursue the development of zero-emission regional aviation. The contract was signed in Lofoten for contributing parties Lofotkraft, Destination Lofoten and the Lofoten Council, on behalf of the six Lofoten municipalities of - Røst, Værøy, Moskenes, Flakstad, Vestvågøy and Vågan. The group has recognized Elfly's efforts and how its ambitions can contribute to Norway achieving its sustainable goals to see emission-free domestic aviation by 2040. With Elfly, the group aims to become a pilot region for zero-emission aviation.Photo: The six Mayors of LofotenL to R: Einar Benjaminsen, Elisabeth Mikalsen, Vidar Thom Benjaminsen, Hanna Sverdrup, Jonny Finstad and Susan Berg Kristiansen.Lofoten is embracing the UN's climate goals with a roadmap for the Lofoten Green Islands. A sustainability program launched in February 2022 under a partnership with Lofoten Council, Lofotkraft and Destination Lofoten.
"We are very proud to have the Lofoten Regional Council on board with us on this journey, as we work to develop a product which suits their needs in the region, supporting travel and tourism, but also addressing the local transport needs for Lofoten inhabitants," Elfly Group CEO and Founder Eric Lithun said. "This agreement shows that with our electric seaplane concept we meet that need, and that we have interested customers. Seaplanes will return!"
"At Lofotkraft, we are in the process of expanding power and charging solutions in the ports of Lofoten, and look forward to working with Elfly," Loforkraft CEO Arnt M. Winther said.
The Lofoten Municipalities are in agreement over the exciting opportunities. The head of the Lofoten Regional Council Vidar Thom Benjaminsen is enthusiastic about electric aviation and will participate in the first trips with Elfly's electric seaplane Noemi.
"Lofoten is a spectacular but demanding geographical area, where ground transport takes a long time," Benjaminsen said. "An electric aircraft capable of landing on water in a safe and good way, affordably priced, will be very good for Lofoten. We can travel from Svolvær to Reine in less than half an hour and make much better connections with larger regional centers."
In June Elfly revealed the design of its commercial seaplane, Noemi. Noemi, short for "no emissions" was designed for flexible mobility in Norway. The seaplane was inspired by a boat, whose hull would allow the aircraft to takeoff using little power. The non-passenger prototype is being readied for flight in 2025. The Noemi is being designed for 124-mile air journeys, flying at speeds of up to 155 mph and expected to be released in 2030. The all-electric seaplane has a non-pressurized cabin and will be powered by two electric motors with up to 1MW combined output.RELATED STORIES:Elfly secures grant to develop all-electric seaplane 'Noemi' prototypeElfly Group reveals all-electric seaplane design 'Noemi'
"Electric seaplanes with boat hulls and good stability, can add exciting new travel opportunities within Lofoten," Mayor of Moskenes Hanna Sverdrup said. "Our fishing villages can be connected by seaplane from port to port and they can help open new business opportunities for Reine, our most popular and iconic destination."
"For the outermost islands such as Værøy and Røst, Elfly can offer completely new travel concepts to and from Bodø and our neighboring municipalities in Lofoten," Mayor of Røst Elisabeth Mikalsen said.
The design is part of a research project funded by private investors and the Research Council of Norway. Elfly, unlike many other electric aircraft developers, is planning to pursue an operator's certificate to bring the first aircraft into service and connect the fjords of Norway. The goal is to have the first 15 seaplanes flying along the west coast of Norway by 2030. On Aug. 30, Elfly announced it had secured a grant from a Norwegian Government agency to develop its prototype, following the confirmation of an $8 million grant from Enova SF, Norway's Ministry of Climate and Environment.
"With ambitions to be a pilot region for emission-free aviation, this collaboration gives Lofoten valuable exposure in global arenas," Mayor of Vestvågø Jonny Finstad said. "Here we demonstrate Lofoten is ahead of the curve embracing future-oriented technological developments in aviation."