Airbus and Linde to cooperate on hydrogen infrastructure for airports
The use of hydrogen in aircraft will reduce air emissions and help decarbonise air transport activities on the ground.
Airbus and Linde have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work on developing hydrogen infrastructure at airports worldwide.
The agreement follows a cooperation agreement signed in Singapore in February and covers collaboration on global supply chains for hydrogen, from production to airport storage, including the integration of refuelling into normal ground handling operations.
Both companies will define and launch pilot projects at several airports from early 2023 onwards. In addition, Airbus and Linde will analyse the potential of Power-to-Liquid fuels – a type of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) made from the synthetically produced liquid hydrocarbon through the conversion of renewable electricity.
In 2020 Airbus launched the “Hydrogen Hub at Airports” programme to jumpstart research into infrastructure requirements and low-carbon airport operations, across the entire value chain. To date, agreements have been signed with partners and airports in France, Italy, South Korea, Japan and Singapore.
The first ZEROe concept aircraft was unveiled in 2020, and the development of the corresponding technology bricks is now underway in a global R&T network focused on developing hydrogen technology for future commercial aircraft.
Sabine Klauke, Chief Technical Officer, Airbus, said, “We are advancing well with hydrogen as an important technology pathway to achieve our ambition of bringing a zero-emission commercial aircraft to market by 2035. Building the infrastructure is just as crucial.”
Philippe Peccard, VP Clean Energy, Linde, “By harnessing both companies’ competencies we are well-positioned to collaborate with airports and government authorities in the development of viable concepts for sustainable airport hubs based on hydrogen.”
