Zero-emissions propulsion startup Universal Hydrogen has expanded its customer base with a letter of intent from Ireland-based regional aircraft lessor ACIA Aero Leasing to convert up to 30 turboprops.

Under the agreement, ACIA expects to place 10 firm orders for Universal Hydrogen’s (UH2) ATR 72 conversion, with purchase rights for 20 additional kits for various turboprop types.

ACIA’s portfolio includes 15 ATR 72s and six ATR 42s, with three De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400s on order. Customers include Angola’s Bestfly, which has agreed to lease another ATR 72-600 to join two aircraft already on lease from ACIA.

Following the aircraft conversions, the companies plan to collaborate on marketing fuel services to ACA leasing customers using UH2’s hydrogen logistics system, which will use modular capsules to deliver green hydrogen to aircraft using the global intermodal freight network.

UH2 is developing a hydrogen fuel-cell power train for retrofit to the ATR and Dash 8 families and has previously announced letters of intent for conversions from Spain’s Air Nostrum, Irish cargo airline operator ASL Aviation Holdings, Icelandair Group and Ravn Alaska.