Airbus Leads €10.8 Million Project to Demonstrate Hydrogen Aircraft Ground Operations 

Airbus, in collaboration with a consortium of partners, has launched a pioneering project – GOLIAT (Ground Operations of Liquid hydrogen AircrafT).

This €10.8 million initiative, funded by the EU*, aims to demonstrate the safe and efficient handling of liquid hydrogen (LH2) for refuelling short- and medium-haul aircraft at three European airports. The program duration is four years.

GOLIAT: Key Points

• €10.8 million EU-funded* project to develop and demonstrate safe and reliable LH2 handling and refueling technologies for airports.
• Four-year project showcasing small-scale LH2 aircraft ground operations at three European airports.
• GOLIAT consortium includes 10 key players in aviation, the hydrogen industry, and academia from across the aviation ecosystem in eight countries.

Karine Guenan, Vice President of ZEROe Ecosystem, Airbus stated:

“We continue to believe that hydrogen will be an important fuel for the future of short-haul aviation. We welcome the opportunity to help build the operating case for the widespread daily use of liquid hydrogen at airports.”

Project Goals:

• Developing and demonstrating LH2 refuelling technologies scaled-up for future large commercial aircraft.
• Demonstrating small-scale LH2 aircraft ground operations at airports.
• Developing the standardisation and certification framework for future LH2 operations.
• Assessing the sizing and economics of the hydrogen value chains for airports.

The GOLIAT project underscores the aviation industry’s urgent need to decarbonise operations. As noted in the project announcement, “LH2 offers significant potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on fossil fuels.”

_{*The GOLIAT (Ground Operations of LIquid hydrogen AircrafT) project will receive funding of €10.8 million from the EU’s Horizon Europe Framework Programme via CINEA, the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency. Airbus Statement, May 16 2024}