Airbus has taken a major step towards decarbonising aviation by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kansai Airports and Kawasaki Heavy Industries. The agreement aims to develop hydrogen infrastructure at three key airports in Japan – Kansai, Osaka and Kobe – as part of the “Hydrogen Hub at Airports” programme .
This project aims to facilitate the introduction of hydrogen-powered aircraft and contribute to reducing emissions in the aeronautical industry .
Hydrogen planes to boost decarbonisation
Under this MoU , the three companies will conduct feasibility studies to define the infrastructure needed to supply hydrogen to aircraft , tailored to the specific needs of each airport . In addition, demonstration projects will be assessed that could guide future policies and regulations, boosting the use of hydrogen in aviation .
Liquid hydrogen has been identified as a key fuel for reducing CO2 emissions. Airbus expects hydrogen consumption to increase significantly in the coming years, reaching several tonnes per day at Japanese airports by 2050. Kansai Airports, for its part, has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 , strengthening its collaboration with new initiatives.
It is important to mention that Airbus will provide knowledge on the characteristics of the aircraft and the energy use of the fleet, while Kansai will study the infrastructure required at airports for the introduction of these aircraft.
As a leader in hydrogen solutions, Kawasa ki will contribute its expertise in designing cryogenic hydrogen supply networks, enabling an efficient and secure supply chain. This agreement accelerates efforts to achieve a more sustainable future for aviation, with hydrogen as the main focus.
This project, in addition to benefiting aviation in flight, will have a positive impact on ground operations, such as the recharging of vehicles and equipment that run on hydrogen.
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Source and photo: Airbus