Airbus, Kansai Airports, Kawasaki Heavy Industries to study the feasibility of hydrogen infrastructure at three airports
Airbus, Kansai Airports, and Kawasaki Heavy Industries (Kawasaki) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to study the feasibility of hydrogen infrastructure at three airports operated in the Kansai region – Kansai International Airport, Osaka International Airport, and Kobe Airport.
With this MoU, the three parties will conduct an initial feasibility study for the introduction and operation of hydrogen aircraft as part of the “Hydrogen Hub at Airports” programme* and strengthen collaboration to materialise the supply of hydrogen to aircraft at the three airports.
The new initiative by the three parties will focus on the definition of a hydrogen infrastructure and supply roadmap at all three airports. This will be based on specific aircraft and airport characteristics.
Since 2022, Airbus has worked with Kansai Airports on the use of hydrogen in the development of airport infrastructure, where Kansai Airports demonstrated world-class hydrogen infrastructures exemplified by fuel cell buses and forklifts in full operation. The three airports have their own geographical and traffic characteristics which allowed Airbus to study multiple means to supply hydrogen to the airport premises.
The manufacturer has also worked with Kawasaki for the preparation of the hydrogen-fuelled ecosystem, where Kawasaki, as a leading hydrogen solution provider, demonstrated strong capabilities to design several end-to-end cryogenic hydrogen supply network options. Kawasaki has experience in the installation of baggage handling systems and other systems at several airports and knows airport infrastructure development.
Both studies have delivered a solid understanding of hydrogen infrastructures at the airports and the successful partnerships evolved into the second phase of the integrated feasibility study. Collaboration between the three parties enables more feasible studies that incorporate the perspectives of both supply chain and airport operations.
Under the partnership, Airbus carried out a liquid hydrogen demand forecast for the airports where a few tons of liquid hydrogen per day would be required to support the aircraft operations in the early stage of introduction. It is forecasted to increase towards up to several hundred tons per day around 2050. Airbus has observed a mature hydrogen industry footprint in Kansai and other regions backed by extensive policy measures and foresees a promising market for hydrogen aviation.
“Hydrogen is attracting global attention as a way to decarbonise. The Japanese Government is promoting a hydrogen-based energy strategy to achieve its carbon neutrality target by 2050,” said Karine Guenan. “The Japanese Government has announced specific plans for the development of hydrogen from production to consumption. We believe our partnership with Japanese companies under the Hydrogen Hubs at Airports programme will contribute to the introduction of a hydrogen-powered aircraft by 2035.”
“Kansai Airports has set a vision to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and is actively pursuing various initiatives, including the use of hydrogen, to reduce environmental impact,” said Yoshiyuki Yamaya. “We are delighted that this partnership will not only help us crystallise hydrogen solutions in the airport sector but also contribute to the decarbonization of the aviation industry. Based on our efforts since 2022, we will strengthen collaboration with new partners and strive to become a model for hydrogen use in airport infrastructure.”
Airbus, Kansai Airports and Kawasaki will contribute to the early realisation of the decarbonisation of airport infrastructure in Japan by collaborating on this MOU, with the aim of realising a society in which hydrogen aircraft can operate in the future.
*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 announced with partners and airports in 14 countries including Japan, France, Germany, Italy, the U.S.A., Canada, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Australia, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
