Airbus, easyJet, Air Products and London Gatwick have linked up to launch the London Gatwick Hydrogen Hub.
The initiative will explore how infrastructure to supply hydrogen could be introduced at the airport, representing an “important first step” for potential zero carbon flights operating out of London Gatwick. With Gatwick the UK’s leading hub for short to medium haul routes and easyJet’s expertise as a short haul carrier, the London Gatwick Hydrogen Hub is set to be an ideal testbed for R&D into support infrastructure for hydrogen-powered aircraft.
It forms part of Airbus’ “Hydrogen Hub at Airports” programme which is striving to kickstart research into infrastructure requirements and low carbon airport operations. This will pave the way for widespread scale-up and adoption of zero emission hydrogen-powered aircraft.
The programme’s scope includes liquid hydrogen supply and storage at the airport, refuelling and ground handling of hydrogen aircraft, and the exploration of other, shorter-term opportunities for using hydrogen at the airport.
easyJet Chief Operating Officer, David Morgan, said that with the support of regulators and policymakers, projects such as the London Gatwick Hydrogen Hub will “act as the building blocks to prepare UK airports for a hydrogen transition”.
Morgan continued: “Hydrogen is going to play an important role in decarbonising aviation, so we need to lay the groundwork now to make that happen. The Gatwick hub is another positive signal and demonstrates the industry’s intent to both adapt and work together to reach the common goal of decarbonising aviation.”
