Airbus, Aena, Air Nostrum, Iberia, Exolum, and Repsol have joined forces to explore Spain’s first hydrogen airport hub. This collaborative effort spans the entire value chain of hydrogen-powered aviation, from energy production to ground operations, involving two airlines and multiple airports across the country.
The initiative aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of integrating hydrogen-powered aircraft into the airport ecosystem. It focuses on developing hydrogen supply infrastructure and addressing specific operational requirements at airports, ultimately supporting the growth of Spain’s hydrogen aviation sector.
“At Airbus, decarbonizing aviation is a top priority, and hydrogen-powered aircraft deployment is a critical lever in achieving this goal. Leveraging Spain’s renewable energy potential, collaboration across the aviation industry is crucial to establishing a sustainable hydrogen supply chain to airports,” said Karine Guenan, Airbus’ Vice President ZEROe Ecosystem.
“Aena prioritizes decarbonizing air transport, and this collaboration will help us understand the feasibility of hydrogen supply to Spanish airports. We aim to create a roadmap to tackle the challenges of introducing this new energy vector in airport environments,” added Ana Salazar, Director of Sustainability at Aena.
María José Sanz, Director of Quality and Environment at Air Nostrum, emphasized their commitment to advancing decarbonization in air transport, noting their potential as early adopters of hydrogen technology due to their operational scale.
Teresa Parejo, Iberia’s Director of Sustainability, highlighted the importance of collaboration in advancing sector decarbonization and integrating hydrogen into aviation’s future alongside sustainable fuels.
Andrés Suárez, Global Strategy & Innovation Lead at Exolum, expressed their dedication to developing hydrogen infrastructure for decarbonizing air mobility, underscoring hydrogen’s role as a future energy solution.
Luis de Oyarzabal, Repsol’s senior manager of New Business, emphasized renewable hydrogen’s role in their decarbonization strategy, envisioning its application across industrial and mobility sectors.
Airbus’ “Hydrogen Hub at Airports” initiative aims to expand hydrogen infrastructure globally, with agreements already in place across 13 countries, including Spain, to promote sustainable aviation.
For more information on hydrogen in aviation, visit the ZEROe page.
