In a bid to become a hydrogen hub in regional air transport, Hamburg Airport has set up a consortium with partners and is applying for EU funding within the interreg programme.
The international project partnership has submitted a funding application for the planned project – BSR Hydrogen Air Transport (Preparation of Baltic Sea Region Airports for Green Hydrogen). Under the leadership of Hamburg Airport, various airports, airfields, organisations and regional economic partners have joined the Baltic Sea Region Project to better connect rural Baltic Sea regions to existing aviation hubs and to promote sustainable flying.
The EU’s Interreg Baltic Sea Region funding programme has announced several thematic fields. Hamburg Airport and its consortium applied for funding in the field of green mobility. The Baltic Sea Region Project’s priorities include the development of the supply chain for green hydrogen from production to the fuelling of aircraft or airport ground support equipment, as well as test operations.
The consortium
The partnership consists of 16 project partners and 24 associated organisations. Almost all major airport operators around the Baltic Sea are involved, among them Finavia, Swedavia, Lithuanian Airports, Riga Airport, and Tallinn Airport. The project development and application was initiated by Hamburg Airport, the lead partner. As the project aims, among other things, at revitalising regional air traffic, several smaller airports and regional airlines are also involved in the partnership. Relevant technology providers, universities and authorities are also partners or associated organisations. In Germany, Sylt Airport, Sylt Air, Lübeck Air and Lübeck Airport are project partners. The Ministry of Economics, Transport, Labour, Technology and Tourism of Schleswig-Holstein (MWVATT), Hamburg Aviation, ZAL Centre for Applied Aviation Research, Hamburg Authority for Economics and Innovation (BWI) are also participating.
Should the project application and selection for funding succeed, the project could start in autumn 2023. It is expected to last three years and will be an important step towards fossil-free flying in the Baltic Sea region.
The project aims to clarify the prerequisites for an airport infrastructure geared towards hydrogen-powered aircraft. By its end, all airports should be prepared to invest and implement infrastructure projects on their own, the partners said. With this project, Hamburg Airport wants to work out the potential for regional air transport using hydrogen technology. In addition, a new network of flight connections is to be opened up.
Image: Hamburg Airport
