Glasgow Airport makes first step towards enabling hydrogen flight

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

The funding was confirmed by the First Minister of Scotland Humza Yousaf and forms part of the Scottish Government’s £7m Hydrogen Innovation Scheme which aims to support the development of renewable hydrogen technologies.

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

The international consortium includes AI & 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 two airlines (easyJet and Loganair).

Amongst other things the feasibility study will design the optimal infrastructure and method for transfering hydrogen from solid-state storage to a gaseous mobile storage and dispensing unit for delivery to hydrogen aircraft and ground-handling equipment.

Currently, hydrogen is stored by three methods: high-pressure gaseous hydrogen storage, low-temperature liquid hydrogen storage, and solid-state hydrogen storage. Among solid-state hydrogen storage, solid-state materials are generally the safest and provide the most hydrogen storage density.

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, to create a UK network of hydrogen-ready airports, including Aberdeen and Southampton which together with Glasgow form AGS Airports.

Jon Matthews, Group Head of Capital Investment at AGS Airports, said: “Hydrogen powered aircraft have the potential to completely revolutionise aviation, particularly on regional and short-haul routes. 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.”