Finavia has announced it is involved in the HyAirport hydrogen project designed for airports in the Baltic Sea region to promote the use of hydrogen.
The aim is to develop the hydrogen supply chain from production to the fuelling of airport equipment, aircraft and testing operations. Finland’s airline service boasts around 20 snow removal machines at its Helsinki Airport that could use hydrogen fuel, with the project bringing gaseous hydrogen to the airport to act as the energy source.
The HyAirport project has been granted €4m ($4.39m) in EU funding, which includes Finavia and the project partners. The international cooperation is expected to last for three years and make an important step towards fossil-free aviation in the Baltic Sea.
Hamburg Airport will lead the HyAirport project, which will be launched in November (2023), with other airports such as Swedavia, Lithuanian airports, Riga Airport and Tallinn Airport also involved.
Mikko Viinikainen, Finavia’s Vice President, Sustainability and Environment, said, “We will replace the engine of the sweeper blower for snow removal with a piston engine that runs on green hydrogen and renewable diesel.
“Storing hydrogen and delivering it to the airport equipment will also give us valuable experience for the future of hydrogen-powered aircraft.”
Viinikainen stated that the airport’s goal is to reduce carbon emissions from its own operations to Net Zero by 2025. He added, “This level will be reached at Helsinki Airport by as early as next year. In the future, hydrogen-powered airport equipment will offer additional solutions for eliminating carbon emissions.”