On July 3, 2024, Malpensa Airport, a fellow OLGA airport, hosted a pivotal meeting gathering representatives from several leading EU projects focused on sustainable aviation, including the EU Green Deal sister projects (OLGA, STARGATE and TULIPS) and the newly initiated ALRIGH2T project. The event brought together operational partners from SEA Milan Airports, Torino Airport, and Brussels Airport to discuss collaborative strategies and knowledge sharing for advancing the use of hydrogen in airport operations.
The primary objective of the meeting was to foster cross-fertilization and knowledge exchange among the various demonstrators involved in the H2020 Green Airports projects. The discussions focused on the integration and application of hydrogen technologies within airport ground operations, specifically targeting ground service equipment and people mobility. Key topics included synergies in hydrogen production, storage, refueling processes, and the performance of hydrogen-powered airport equipment.
The collaboration among these projects is a crucial step towards enriching the EU-funded innovation projects' contributions to the aviation industry's roadmap for hydrogen implementation. To further this mission, the projects have partnered with ACI Europe and To70 Aviation to launch the annual Hydrogen Airport Conference. This event will serve as a platform for high-level stakeholders to discuss innovations and strategies for implementing hydrogen in airport operations. More information about the conference can be found here.
In alignment with the ambitions of the AZEA initiative, the cluster of projects has also welcomed participation from Horizon Europe projects focused on hydrogen-powered aviation, with a particular emphasis on liquid hydrogen. The ALRIGH2T project is the first to join this cluster, enhancing the group's expertise and strengthening the interface between airport operations and liquid hydrogen flight technologies.
Following the productive discussions, attendees participated in a site visit outside the air cargo stands at Malpensa Airport. Here, plans are underway for the construction of a 1 MW electrolyzer, set to produce hydrogen for the airport's energy mix diversification and decarbonization from late 2025 onward. Future plans include extending the production site with a pipeline to an airside dispenser at the cargo stands.
This collaborative effort marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of sustainable aviation and the broader EU Green Deal objectives. By leveraging the combined expertise and resources of these projects, the aviation industry is poised to make substantial advancements in hydrogen technology integration, paving the way for a more sustainable future.