Decarbonising aviation is a critical element of the UK's strategy to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, with ambitious targets set for all airport operations and domestic flights in England to reach net zero by 2040. Hydrogen has been identified as a key potential aviation fuel to meet these goals. However, substantial innovations in airport infrastructure are necessary to support the transition to hydrogen fuel. While some UK airports, such as Bristol, have begun developing on-site hydrogen infrastructure, there remains a significant gap in technical knowledge. Current research lacks detailed, bottom-up design to qualify and quantify technical paths for infrastructure that supports hydrogen as a major aviation fuel. This includes integrating with existing airport energy systems and ensuring compatibility with net zero flight missions.

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.

Our analysis will cover system-wide impacts on environmental and energy sustainability, cost barriers, and risk management. Our research aims to fill existing gaps by providing a detailed, bottom-up technical analysis of hydrogen aviation infrastructure, focusing on environmental impact, economic benefits, and energy sustainability. The outcomes will guide the development of practical solutions, identify potential barriers, and support the UK's strategic goals for sustainable aviation.