South Korea’s Incheon International Airport has signed a memorandum of understanding with industrial gases group Air Liquide, aircraft manufacturer Airbus and airline Korean Air to explore the use of hydrogen at the airport.

Air Liquide started up two high-capacity hydrogen fuelling stations at Incheon in August 2021 to serve fuel-cell buses, cars and demonstration trucks. Airbus and Korean Air will provide expertise on ground operations, as well as aircraft characteristics and fleet energy usage.

“Together, we will prepare a roadmap to first develop hydrogen usages at and around Incheon Airport and then build scenarios to support the deployment of hydrogen ecosystems connected to other Korean airports,” says Anand Stanley, Asia-Pacific president for Airbus.

“Momentum is building around hydrogen, notably with initiatives to accelerate the development of more sustainable aviation” Abrial, Air Liquide

The partners will also carry out studies into developing the necessary liquid infrastructure required for future hydrogen-powered aircraft.

“Momentum is building around hydrogen, notably with initiatives to accelerate the development of a more sustainable aviation. South Korea is one of the most active countries in the world for hydrogen activities, and we are pleased to participate with our partners in the development of the country’s hydrogen economy,” says Francois Abrial, a member of the Air Liquide’s executive committee supervising Asia-Pacific.

“By starting to introduce hydrogen now through mobility projects, and with the ambition of developing liquid hydrogen infrastructures for airports in the future, we are contributing to building a more sustainable future,” he adds.

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Author: Polly Martin