Groningen Airport Eelde in the Netherlands has announced a collaboration with New Energy Coalition to make the airport one of the most sustainable in Europe through the use of hydrogen technology.
Through its NXT Airport initiative, which looks to develop sustainability innovations together with educational institutions, the business community and government authorities, the airport’s ambition is to produce green hydrogen on-site and deploy it for innovative applications on both groundside and airside.
Marieke Abbink-Pellenbarg, managing director of New Energy Coalition, commented, “The New Energy Coalition Foundation connects parties to create collaborations that speed up the transition to a sustainable energy economy. In addition to road, water and rail transport, we can now also include air transport in the Hydrogen Valley. This is a very valuable addition and strengthens the position of the Hydrogen Valley, the testing ground for hydrogen development in the Northern Netherlands. We will be deploying our knowledge and network to help Groningen Airport Eelde achieve their ambition of becoming Europe’s most sustainable hydrogen-powered airport.”
A solar park with a capacity of 21.9MW has already been built by GroenLeven between the runway, platform and taxiway at Groningen Airport Eelde and the company plans to use electrolysis to produce green hydrogen at the airport.
This green hydrogen will then be used for a multi-fuel filling station, serving both groundside and airside. On the groundside, passenger cars, trucks and regional buses will be able to refuel, while on the airside, the station will serve ground handling equipment, hydrogen drones and hydrogen-powered aircraft in the future.
Groningen Airport Eelde’s ground handling aims to be emission-free by 2030 and the airport is working with Holthausen Clean Technology to convert existing equipment and develop innovative hydrogen-powered ground equipment, which is not yet on the market.