Study Highlights Potential of Hydrogen at Airports

A study commissioned by the German Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV) identifies potential applications for hydrogen at airports. The analysis, prepared by the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics and published by NOW GmbH, particularly emphasizes the importance of modular concepts and regional cooperation for ramping up the hydrogen economy.

According to the study, the short-term use of hydrogen as an aviation fuel is not yet foreseeable, as the technology is still under development. Instead, Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) will play a central role in the decarbonization of air transport in the future. At the same time, the study shows that developing a hydrogen infrastructure at airports could still be worthwhile – for example, for use in apron operations, i.e., for vehicles and equipment used for aircraft handling.

However, production-ready vehicles are only available in limited quantities, and their acquisition involves high investment and operating costs. This presents significant obstacles, which is why developing a hydrogen infrastructure solely for apron operations is hardly economically viable. The study therefore recommends developing airports more as regional, multi-use ecosystems. Hydrogen infrastructure could therefore be used jointly with logistics companies, public transport, or neighboring industrial and commercial sites to improve capacity utilization and profitability.

According to the study, the biggest challenges lie less in the technology itself than in regulatory and economic issues. A lack of standards, complex approval processes, and uncertainties regarding demand and business models are currently hindering investment.

Dagmar Fehler, CEO and spokesperson of NOW GmbH, explained that hydrogen can be used effectively and economically at airports. However, this requires a modular and regionally networked infrastructure development in collaboration with various partners.