A consortium of leading aviation and energy companies, including Airbus, Aena, Air Nostrum, Iberia, Exolum, and Repsol, have joined forces to explore the development of Spain’s first hydrogen airport hub. This collaborative effort aims to address the challenges of integrating hydrogen-fueled aviation into Spain’s airport infrastructure, focusing on the entire supply chain, from production to ground-level management.
This unique alliance marks a pioneering move to tackle the various challenges associated with introducing hydrogen-fueled aviation in Spain. The project is distinctive in its approach, encompassing the complete supply chain from the initial production of energy to the management of hydrogen at ground level, and involves cooperation between two airlines and a comprehensive airport network. The partnership aims to offer a comprehensive perspective on the integration and functionality of hydrogen-powered planes within the airport environment. The focus extends beyond merely ensuring a hydrogen supply and infrastructure; it also considers the nuanced demands of airport ground operations.
The primary objective is to foster the development of a hydrogen aviation framework in Spain, supporting its growth and integration. “Decarbonisation of the airline sector is a key aim for Airbus and the deployment of hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft with its H2 ecosystem is an essential lever. The aviation industry as a whole must work together to secure the future supply of hydrogen in airports, especially taking into account Spain’s great potential in renewables and low-carbon hydrogen production,” points out Javier Arnaldo, Director of Sustainability at Airbus Spain.
“The decarbonisation of the air transport sector is a priority for Aena. This collaboration will allow us to obtain a broader understanding of how the process of supplying hydrogen to Spanish airports could materialise in the future, in order to establish a roadmap that will address the main challenges presented by the introduction of this new energy vector in an airport environment,” says Ana Salazar, Director of Sustainability at Aena.
María José Sanz, Director of Quality and Environment at Air Nostrum, explains that “Our commitment is to work alongside the developers of new technologies aimed at decarbonising air transport. As a regional airline we can contribute to the project because we meet the necessary conditions to become the first implementers of hydrogen technology, thanks to the size of our planes and the average distance we travel.”
According to Teresa Parejo, Director of Sustainability at Iberia, “Collaboration between the different actors is necessary to advance the decarbonisation of the sector. Hydrogen will foreseeably be part of the future of aviation, which will come later and will complement the development of sustainable fuels; to reach that future we must begin to take the first steps now.”
For his part, Andrés Suárez, Global Strategy & Innovation Lead of Exolum, says , “At Exolum we are committed to the development and operation of infrastructure that contributes to promoting the energy transition and the decarbonisation of air mobility in all its areas and especially with the deployment of hydrogen as a future energy solution for the sector.”
In turn, Luis de Oyarzabal, Senior Manager of New Businesses at Repsol, points out that “Renewable hydrogen plays a crucial role in our decarbonisation strategy. Not only will we use it in our industrial facilities, but we also glimpse its potential in the field of mobility. To boost this market, we believe it is essential to collaborate with the best partners, gathered in this hub, to make the most of the opportunity presented to us.”
Airbus has initiated the “Hydrogen Hub at Airports” initiative aimed at enhancing hydrogen infrastructure within the aviation sector. So far, the program has secured partnerships and agreements with entities in 13 nations, covering Germany, Canada, South Korea, Spain, the United States, France, Italy, Japan, Norway, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Sweden.
