Air Liquide and Groupe ADP have announced the creation of Hydrogen Airport, a joint venture specialising in helping airports with hydrogen projects.
The joint venture, the first engineering and consulting JV to help airports integrate hydrogen projects within their infrastructures, was created following a 2021 study. Carried out jointly with Airbus, the study looked at the potential introduction of hydrogen planes in approximately 30 airports around the world. This partnership reflects the groups’ shared ambition to start preparing for the rollout of carbon-free aviation worldwide, the JV partners said.
The governance team is in place and the joint venture has begun commercial activities. The range of services provided covers all the challenges of integrating hydrogen energy, namely: the estimation of volumes required over time; the optimisation of logistics based on the specific requirements of the airport and its location; preliminary safety and carbon impact studies; and cost analysis and investment roadmap development.
Hydrogen Airport is targeting a global market, with initial business development efforts focused on approximately 200 international and regional airports of a given critical size located in current or future hydrogen hubs (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific).
Air Liquide brings its expertise in hydrogen, which ranges from the production of renewable or low-carbon hydrogen, to liquefaction, storage, and the distribution of hydrogen for aircraft. Groupe ADP contributes its expertise in airport infrastructure and operations.
Hydrogen Airport’s operational directors are: Matthieu Piron, general manager, and Sébastien Lichtle, chief technical officer.
Its board of directors consists of: Thierry de Séverac, chairman of the board of Hydrogen Airport and director of engineering and capital projects at Groupe ADP; Amélie Lummaux, director of sustainable development and public affairs, Groupe ADP; Dominique Rouge, vice-president sales and technology at Air Liquide Engineering & Construction; and Eric Prades, vice-president energy transition partnerships, hydrogen energy world business line, Air Liquide Group.
Image: Air Liquide and Groupe ADP
