Oman Airlines partners Shell for hydrogen mobility; Cepsa and Air Nostrum to decarbonise aviation
The hydrogen for mobility project will support the Oman Vision 2040 energy objectives.
Shell Development Oman LLC (Oman Shell) has signed an MOU with Oman Airports that would see Oman Shell providing up to 15 Hydrogen Cars for the Oman Airports’ corporate usage.
The project will include developing hydrogen production units powered by photovoltaic solar plants and installed at different fuelling units related to the project. These stations will be selected strategically to maximise benefits to the project and allow members of the public to have visibility of the technology.
Walid Hadi, Oman Shell’s VP, said, “The potential for the use of solar in electrolysers to produce hydrogen builds on the success Shell has had with other renewables-based projects in Oman, like Solar into Schools and Sohar Solar Qabas.”
Sheikh Aimen Al Hosni, CEO of Oman Airports, added, “Since 2017, we have incorporated a carbon management program to measure and reduce our carbon footprint in a phased manner in Muscat, Salalah and Duqm Airports.”
Cepsa and Air Nostrum to decarbonise air transport
Cepsa and Air Nostrum signed an agreement to boost the decarbonisation of air transport through the research and production of new Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and renewable hydrogen.
These fuels, which reduce aviation emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional kerosene, will be produced from circular raw materials that do not compete with food, such as used cooking oils, non-food animal waste, and biodegradable waste from various industries.
The alliance also contemplates the development of new energy alternatives such as renewable hydrogen and electrification for Air Nostrum’s ground fleets, including supply vehicles, baggage handling, and aircraft assistance.
The partnership is in line with the European legislative initiative ‘RefuelEU Aviation,’ included in the European Commission’s Fit for 55 measures, which aims to boost the supply and demand of sustainable fuels for aviation in the European Union, reaching use of 2% in 2025, 5% in 2030 and 63% in 2050.
