The UK's route to hydrogen-powered flying took another significant step forward with the successful completion of the first hydrogen airside refuelling demonstration at a major UK airport.
By Shreya M
The trial, known as Project Acorn, was led by the EasyJet and took place at Bristol Airport. It involved various experts from across the sector, including Cranfield Aerospace Solutions, IAAPS, Fuel Cell Systems Ltd., GLOBE Fuel Cell Systems, Jacobs, Cranfield University, DHL Supply Chain, Connected Places Catapult, Mulag and TCR working in collaboration with CAA and UK Civil Aviation. Importantly, the trial was reviewed by the Civil Aviation Authority, which served as an impartial reviewer for the safety argument.
On adding to it, EasyJet has always believed Hydrogen is future of short hall aviation and key component of aviation sustainability ambition giving us potential to fly without any carbon emission which is hugely exciting tells EasyJet's head of Net Zero Emission Lahiru Ranasinghe.
The picture in brief explains how everything is conducted. Safety is one of the most important factor and priority in aviation sector and for trail. Broadly speaking, the safety evaluations and emergency preparations conducted in collaboration with local authorities will yield priceless insights and act as a model to support airports in their transition to hydrogen.
- These safety measures were advised by Cranfield university experts as well as many others and of course, the CAA course. University experts had already gone through trials prior to the test at Bristol Airport, in which they carried out ground operations and training in a secure environment.
- When it comes to hydrogen storage and distribution, it is a technical challenge in aviation sector, hydrogen has 3 times energy and density per kilogram compared to convectional jet fuel so it takes up more space, lower volumetric energy density. For project Acorn hydrogen is stored in compressed cylindrical tanks, these hydrogen tanks are connected to high cube hydrogen refueler. Developed and supplied by Fuel Cell Systems, were moved to the airport testing location. It takes around three minutes to fully fill the luggage tractor's tank, allowing it to run for two to three hours.
- Then as part of routine operations, the logistics firm DHL serviced easyJet aircraft, refuelled the tractor from a mobile refueler, and hauled passenger bags from the aircraft to the airport.
It is really exciting that the information and knowledge acquired will now be put to use in developing industry safety guidelines and informing the development of the regulatory framework for hydrogen use in airport environments. In order to guarantee that this revolutionary fuel of the future can take to the air and significantly contribute to the decarbonisation of the aviation sector, our shared goal is to quicken the rate of invention and use of hydrogen in aviation.
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