Stargate’s Hydrogen Airport Study

While the aviation industry doesn’t anticipate liquid hydrogen to become a viable fuel for large passenger aircraft before 2040, a critical gap remains in the meantime: what steps can airports take now to prepare for this sustainable future? The question of the “in-between” is capital to the aviation sector’s long-term sustainability.

To address this, the Stargate initiative is launching a groundbreaking study focused on hydrogen infrastructure at airports. This research aims to develop a roadmap for the near-term adoption of hydrogen, ensuring the industry is ready well before the 2040 timeline.

The study is spearheaded by a powerful consortium, including BAC, NACO, Air Products, and Beyond Aero, and is supported by AirCargoBelgium.

Key Focus Areas: Gaseous Hydrogen Refuelling Applications in Airport Environment

The research will specifically explore both landside and airside hydrogen demand, with a particular focus on immediately applicable gaseous hydrogen refuelling technologies, deployable in the short and medium term. Key objectives include:

• Assessing Impact: Quantifying the operational impact and hydrogen demand across airport functions.
• Infrastructure Design: establishing a blueprint for hydrogen refuelling infrastructure suitable for airport operations and environments.
• Business Models: Developing viable, concrete business models to support the necessary hydrogen infrastructure investments.

This initiative marks a strategic step in integrating hydrogen into the broader aviation sustainability roadmap, accelerating the transition to cleaner energy solutions for the aviation industry.