Joint Venture to Tackle Hydrogen Aviation Challenges
Airbus, a major player in the aerospace industry, has partnered with five other companies – Aena, Iberia, Air Nostrum, Repsol, and Exolum – to investigate the establishment of Spain’s inaugural aviation hydrogen hub.
This collaboration aims to address the key obstacles in bringing hydrogen-powered flights to Spain.
Unifying the Entire Hydrogen Value Chain
What sets this initiative apart is the inclusion of the entire hydrogen value chain for the first time. This comprehensive approach encompasses primary energy production, hydrogen ground operations, two airlines, and an extensive network of airports.
Holistic View of Hydrogen-Powered Aviation
The partnership aims to provide collaborators with a comprehensive understanding of not just hydrogen-powered aircraft but also their seamless integration into the airport ecosystem.
This entails focusing on hydrogen infrastructure, supply, and specific requirements for ground operations at airports, ultimately facilitating the development of Spain’s aviation ecosystem.
Why Spain?
According to Airbus’ Vice President ZEROe Ecosystem, Karine Guenan, Spain possesses remarkable potential in renewable energy and low-carbon hydrogen production, making it an ideal location for this venture.
Guenan emphasized the importance of uniting the entire aviation industry to establish a comprehensive hydrogen supply chain that extends to airports.
Airbus’ Commitment to Decarbonization
Decarbonizing aviation is a paramount goal for Airbus, making this partnership crucial for the company. They believe that deploying commercial hydrogen-powered aircraft within a supportive ecosystem is a significant step towards achieving this objective.
Accelerating Hydrogen Technology Advancement
In January, Airbus inaugurated a new research center in Germany dedicated to developing composite hydrogen-system technologies for storing and distributing cryogenic liquid hydrogen. The ZEROe Development Center aims to create lightweight and cost-effective hydrogen systems using composite materials.
Expanding Hydrogen Infrastructure at Airports
Beyond aircraft-specific research, Airbus has a “Hydrogen Hub at Airports” program that fosters the expansion of hydrogen infrastructure in aviation.
The program brings together key players in the ecosystem to better understand the development and utilization of hydrogen technologies for decarbonizing all airport-related infrastructure. Airbus has signed agreements with partners and airports in 13 countries, including the United States.