A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed by Airbus, Avinor, SAS, Swedavia, and Vattenfall to look into the viability of a hydrogen infrastructure at airports in Sweden and Norway.

To support the development of the hydrogen aviation ecosystem in both countries, this cooperation will improve understanding of hydrogen aircraft concepts and operations, supply, infrastructure, and refueling needs at airports. Along with identifying the associated regulatory framework, the work will also determine the process by which the airports in both countries will be converted to accommodate hydrogen-powered aircraft initially.

This is the first feasibility study of its kind encompassing over 50 airports across two countries. It reflects the partners’ common goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and using their specialized expertise to support the decarbonization of the aviation sector.

In addition to substantially reducing aircraft emissions in the air, the use of hydrogen to power future aircraft may also contribute to the decarbonization of air travel-related ground operations. To introduce the first hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft into service by 2035, Airbus unveiled the ZEROe concept in 2020. Within a global Research & Technology network, work is currently being done on developing the matching technology bricks.

To expedite research into low-carbon airport operations and infrastructure requirements throughout the whole value chain, Airbus also initiated the “Hydrogen Hub at Airports” programme. Currently, ten nations—France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, and the United Kingdom—have agreements signed with partners and airports.