IGNITE Sandpit: Net-Zero Emissions Aviation: Developing Hydrogen Energy Infrastructure at Airports’ (Hull, Birmingham, Glasgow)

Project Description

The project aims to comprehensively evaluate, design, and analyse decarbonisation technologies for airport ground infrastructure. This will encompass the entire hydrogen supply chain—from production and storage to transportation—supporting domestic hydrogen aircraft operations. Our goal is to provide qualified and quantified evidence to fulfil the UK government's 2040 zero-emission aviation targets. We will employ a bottom-up modelling approach to design and optimise hydrogen-related airport infrastructure, focusing on location, devices, capacity, and technical routes. This includes developing an airport hydrogen demand model to evaluate hydrogen needs based on flight demand, airport operation patterns, and aircraft parameters. Additionally, we will implement chemical-physical and thermodynamic models for the devices involved, such as storage (liquid or compressed) and transportation (via pipeline or trucks), assessing efficiency and risks (e.g., leakage) to inform technical evaluations. A major UK airport and a hydrogen aircraft prototype will serve as case studies for modelling these demands and requirements.

https://www.ignitenetplus.ac.uk/view/items/id/1529/funded_project-net-zero-emissions-aviation-developing-hydrogen-energy-infrastructure-at-airports