Aircraft manufacturer Airbus and industrial gases firm Linde have signed a memorandum of understanding to work on the development of hydrogen infrastructure at airports.

The firms will collaborate on developing global supply chains for hydrogen, including production, storage and refuelling infrastructure. The two firms will also analyse the potential of power-to-liquid fuels—a type of synthetic sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) made using renewable electricity.

The companies will launch pilot projects at several airports from early 2023 onwards.

Airbus has already launched a project with US-based engine maker CFM International to demonstrate a hydrogen-fuelled engine mounted onto a modified version of its A380 model, the world’s largest passenger plane. Test flights are expected to start in 2025.

“We are advancing well with hydrogen as an important technology pathway” Klauke, Airbus

“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,” says Sabine Klauke, chief technical officer at Airbus.

“Building the infrastructure is just as crucial. That's why we are working closely with partners like Linde, who have decades of experience and expertise worldwide in the storage and distribution of hydrogen.”

Unlocking decarbonisation

Linde currently has the largest liquid hydrogen capacity and distribution system in the world, with five liquid hydrogen production plants already operating.

“We are pleased to expand our successful collaboration with Airbus to a global scope,” says Philippe Peccard, vice president of clean energy at 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.”

Airbus believes liquid hydrogen will be a key technology for decarbonising aviation. In 2020, the company launched the ‘Hydrogen Hub at Airports’ programme to jumpstart research into infrastructure requirements and low-carbon airport operations. It has signed agreements with partners and airports in France, Italy, South Korea, Japan and Singapore as part of the scheme.

A recent report by consultancy Jacobs report offers three models for hydrogen infrastructure development: the delivery of liquid hydrogen directly to the airport by truck, the use of a hydrogen gas pipeline with on-site liquefaction or the use of electrolysis for hydrogen production on-site at the airport.

Some industry experts have argued that direct use of hydrogen as a fuel does not make sense for the sector and that it would be better used as a feedstock for SAF.

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Author: Tom Young