Commercial, Sourcing Renewables  -  May 25, 2023

Glasgow Airport to Carry Out Hydrogen Study

A consortium led by Glasgow Airport and Ikigai, a net-zero consulting co-developer, has secured funding from the Scottish Government to test the feasibility of a hydrogen production, storage and distribution hub to support zero-emission flight at the airport.

The project is called the Glasgow Airport Hydrogen Innovation Hub and will determine the most efficient, bankable, green hydrogen production, storage and refueling solutions. The project will also assess the operational feasibility of a hydrogen hub at the airport.

The international consortium includes AI and solid-state storage technology company H2GO Power, developer of hydrogen-electric power-trains for aircraft ZeroAvia, global strategic environmental and engineering consulting Ricardo, system integrator Altrad Babcock, European green fuels retailer OG Clean Fuels, the University of Glasgow, Scottish Water Horizons, and airline companies easyJet and Loganair.

"Hydrogen powered aircraft have the potential to completely revolutionize aviation, particularly on regional and short-haul routes,” said Jon Matthews, Group Head of Capital Investment at AGS Airports, in a statement. “Airline manufacturers are making tangible progress on zero emission flight and as an airport operator, it is important we start to plan for the delivery, storage and generation of hydrogen. This funding will allow us to bring together a diverse group of companies to address the unique challenges of storing hydrogen safely and at scale in an airport environment.”

Funding for the Glasgow Airport Hydrogen Innovation Hub is part of the Scottish Government’s £7m Hydrogen Innovation Scheme, which aims to support the development of renewable hydrogen technologies.

The project is expected to be completed by early 2024, with the long-term goal of applying this world-first concept to other regional airports and creating a UK network of hydrogen-ready airports.