Brussels Airport's Pioneering Hydrogen Pilot for Ground Handling
Key Ideas
- Brussels Airport collaborates with VIL and DHL for a hydrogen pilot project to assess hydrogen's viability as an alternative fuel for ground vehicles.
- The project includes a mobile hydrogen refueling station and a hydrogen-powered Mulag tow truck for cargo transport, showcasing the efficiency and applicability of hydrogen technology.
- Hydrogen vehicles at the airport offer fast refueling, reduce CO2 and noise emissions, and demonstrate the potential for a more sustainable aviation industry.
- The six-week pilot will set standards for safety, procedures, and feasibility, acting as a model for other airports interested in adopting hydrogen technologies.
Brussels Airport, in collaboration with project partners VIL and DHL, is currently conducting a pioneering hydrogen pilot for ground handling. The main goal of this initiative is to evaluate the use of hydrogen as an alternative fuel for ground vehicles to understand its efficiency and applicability. This project, which is part of the Stargate EU Green Deal, involves installing a mobile hydrogen refueling station on the runway and utilizing a hydrogen-powered Mulag tow truck for cargo transport. The mobile filling station allows the hydrogen-powered towing machine to be refueled directly on site, enabling smooth operations. The pilot project is set to run for six weeks and aims to serve as a benchmark for other airports by providing insights into safety standards, operating procedures, and the feasibility of integrating hydrogen technologies. Hydrogen vehicles have the advantage of quick refueling compared to electric alternatives and contribute to significant reductions in both CO2 and noise emissions. This initiative represents a crucial step towards a more sustainable aviation industry, showcasing the potential for broader implementation of hydrogen technology in airport environments.