Airbus and partners to develop hydrogen airport hub in Spain
Airbus and five partners are joining forces to study the creation of the first Spanish hydrogen airport hub, described as the first time a collaboration has brought together partners from across the entire value chain.
Airbus will join Spanish airport managing company Aena, Spanish regional airline Air Nostrum, national flag carrier Iberia, fuel storage and transportation leader Exolum and energy provider Repsol to develop hydrogen-powered aviation in the country. The collaboration is intended to provide the partners with a holistic view of hydrogen aircraft’s requirements, including the fuel’s supply and infrastructure and specific requirements for ground operations.
“Given Spain’s great potential in renewables and low carbon hydrogen production, it is essential that the aviation industry as a whole collaborates to secure a future end-to-end hydrogen supply chain up to the airports,” said Karine Guenan, Airbus’ vice president ZEROe Ecosystem.
María José Sanz, director of quality and environment at Air Nostrum, added: “As a regional airline, we can be relevant in the project because we have the necessary conditions to become the first implementers of hydrogen technology, thanks to the size of our aircraft and the average distance we fly”.
To date, Airbus has signed agreements with partners and airports in 13 countries to “promote the further expansion of hydrogen infrastructure in aviation”.
