Airbus, Avinor, SAS, Swedavia, and Vattenfall have signed a MoU to investigate the feasibility of deploying hydrogen infrastructure at airports in Norway and Sweden.
Airbus, Avinor, SAS, Swedavia, and Vattenfall have all signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to investigate the feasibility of deploying hydrogen infrastructure at airports in Norway and Sweden. In order to support the development of this hydrogen aviation ecosystem in both nations, our partnership will improve understanding of hydrogen aircraft ideas and operations, supply, infrastructure, and refuelling demands at airports. Together with identifying the associated legislative framework, the effort will also determine the process for choosing which airports in both nations will be converted first to accommodate hydrogen-powered aircraft.
This kind of feasibility assessment, which looks at more than 50 airports across two countries, has never been done before. It demonstrates the partners’ common goal of using their specialised knowledge to help the aviation sector decarbonise and reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
“Hydrogen stands out as a key enabler as we pioneer a sustainable aviation future.” said Guillaume Faury, CEO, Airbus. “Norway and Sweden are among the most demanding regions for aviation and have great potential for hydrogen production from renewable energy sources. I am very pleased to enter into this cooperation with partners fully engaged to take significant steps towards decarbonising aerospace. It fits perfectly with our strategy of deploying hydrogen aviation ecosystems in the most suitable parts of the world,” he further added.
Abraham Foss, CEO, Avinor said, “Hydrogen is emerging as a key energy carrier in future fossil free aviation. As the owner and operator of 43 airports across Norway, Avinor has been working on sustainability for many years already, and has taken a position as a driving force and facilitator for the green transition of Norwegian aviation. Our dialogue with Airbus concerning the decarbonization of aviation goes several years back and we are very happy to be able to announce this collaboration together with our good neighbors in Sweden. Norway, as well as Sweden, is well positioned to be an early mover in the introduction of hydrogen-powered aircraft. We look forward to contributing with our expertise as well as infrastructure to bring this important work forward.”
“As the world takes positive steps towards a more sustainable future, SAS’ commitment is to ensure that also coming generations can enjoy the benefits of seamless global connectivity. By partnering with some of the strongest and most innovative players in the industry, we are assuming our responsibility to drive the transition towards achieving net-zero emissions. A journey that matters not just for SAS, but for the entire aviation industry,” said Anko van der Werff, President & CEO, SAS.
“We are very excited to be part of a larger partnership on the role of hydrogen in aviation together with Airbus, Avinor, SAS and Vattenfall. Swedavia, Avinor and SAS already have established successful collaborations in fossil-free aviation, and it is therefore exciting that Airbus, with its extensive knowledge of hydrogen-powered aircraft through its ZEROe initiative, and Vattenfall, with its expertise in electricity and energy production, are joining us in a more in-depth collaboration. Hydrogen is expected to gradually become an increasing part of the aviation industry’s fuel mix in the future and will therefore have an increasing effect on the infrastructure and planning of our airports. This partnership is a major and important step towards fossil-free aviation in the Nordic region and will further strengthen Swedavia’s role as a front-runner in fossil-free aviation, while at the same time taking another important step in the transition within the aviation industry,” says Jonas Abrahamsson, Swedavia’s president and CEO.
”We want to enable industry decarbonization. Aviation is a hard to abate industry where breaking away from fossil fuels is a huge challenge today. This cross border collaboration however demonstrates the willingness to bring about change. We look forward to contributing with expertise in electricity market development, electrical infrastructure, and hydrogen production in Sweden”, said Anna Borg, President and CEO, Vattenfall.
In addition to greatly lowering aircraft emissions in the air, the use of hydrogen to power future airplanes may also contribute to the decarbonisation of air travel-related ground operations. With the goal of introducing the first hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft into service by 2035, Airbus introduced the ZEROe concept in 2020. Within a global Research & technological network, work is currently being done on developing the matching technological bricks.
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In order to expedite research on low-carbon airport operations and infrastructure requirements throughout the whole value chain, Airbus also initiated the “Hydrogen Hub at Airports” programme. Currently, ten nations—France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, and the United Kingdom—have agreements inked with partners and airports.
Question- Who signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to investigate the feasibility of deploying hydrogen infrastructure at airports?
Answer- Airbus, Avinor, SAS, Swedavia, and Vattenfall
Question- Which two countries are the focus of the feasibility assessment?
Answer- Norway and Sweden
Question- What does Guillaume Faury, CEO of Airbus, consider as a key enabler for a sustainable aviation future?
Answer- Hydrogen
Question- Which country is well positioned to be an early mover in the introduction of hydrogen-powered aircraft?
Answer- Norway
Note– MRO Business Today is the Principal Media Partner of the 5th MRO SOUTH ASIA SUMMIT 2024 co-located with the MRO XPO INDIA & AIRCRAFT INTERIORS INDIA 2024 to be held on 27,28 & 29 February 2024 at the Le Méridien New Delhi, India.
