Airbus and Partners Collaborate to Develop Spain’s First Hydrogen Airport Hub

Pioneering Hydrogen Aviation in Spain

In a groundbreaking move, Airbus, Aena, Air Nostrum, Iberia, Exolum, and Repsol have signed a Collaboration Agreement to study the establishment of Spain’s first hydrogen airport hub. This initiative marks the first collaboration project encompassing the entire value chain of hydrogen aviation, from primary energy production to ground operations at airports, involving two airlines and a comprehensive airport network.

Holistic Approach to Hydrogen-Powered Aviation

The collaboration aims to provide a comprehensive view of integrating hydrogen-powered aircraft into the airport ecosystem. It will focus on hydrogen supply, infrastructure, and the specific requirements of ground operations at airports. The ultimate goal is to foster the growth of the hydrogen aviation ecosystem in Spain.

Commitment to Decarbonisation

Javier Arnaldo, Director of Sustainability at Airbus Spain, emphasized the importance of decarbonising the airline sector, stating, "The deployment of hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft with its H2 ecosystem is essential for securing the future supply of hydrogen in airports, especially considering Spain's potential in renewables and low-carbon hydrogen production."

Strategic Vision for Hydrogen Supply

Ana Salazar, Director of Sustainability at Aena, highlighted the collaborative effort's role in understanding the hydrogen supply process at Spanish airports. "This collaboration will help establish a roadmap addressing the main challenges of introducing hydrogen as an energy vector in an airport environment," Salazar said.

Regional Airlines and New Technologies

María José Sanz, Director of Quality and Environment at Air Nostrum, expressed the airline’s commitment to decarbonisation. "As a regional airline, we can be the first implementers of hydrogen technology due to the size of our planes and the average distance we travel," Sanz explained.

Industry Collaboration and Future Fuels

Teresa Parejo, Director of Sustainability at Iberia, stressed the importance of industry collaboration in advancing sector decarbonisation. "Hydrogen will complement the development of sustainable fuels, and to reach that future, we must start taking steps now," Parejo stated.

Infrastructure Development for Energy Transition

Andrés Suárez, Global Strategy & Innovation Lead at Exolum, underscored the company's commitment to developing infrastructure that promotes energy transition and decarbonisation of air mobility. "The deployment of hydrogen as a future energy solution for the sector is a priority for us," Suárez said.

Renewable Hydrogen’s Role

Luis de Oyarzabal, Senior Manager of New Businesses at Repsol, highlighted the role of renewable hydrogen in their decarbonisation strategy. "To boost this market, collaborating with the best partners in this hub is essential to make the most of the opportunity presented to us," Oyarzabal noted.

Global Hydrogen Hub Initiative

Airbus launched the "Hydrogen Hub at Airports" program to promote the expansion of hydrogen infrastructure in aviation. To date, agreements have been signed with partners and airports in 13 countries, including Germany, Canada, South Korea, Spain, the United States, France, Italy, Japan, Norway, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Sweden.