World’s busiest airport considers feasibility of green hydrogen hub for alternative fuels

The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has begun studying the feasibility of creating a green hydrogen hub designed to cater for the use of hydrogen as a potential fuel source for future aircraft operations.

Located just outside of Atlantia, Georgia, and recently crowned once again as the world’s busiest airport, serving a massive 104.6 million travellers in 2023, the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has joined forces with Plug Power, Airbus, and Delta Air Lines in studying the feasibility of creating a hydrogen-based hub.

The study, which was preliminarily launched earlier this year, will focus on defining the infrastructure, operational viability, and safety and security requirements needed to implement hydrogen as a fuel source for future aircraft operations.

It is also hoped that the study will contribute to the wider understanding of hydrogen supply and infrastructure requirements at other airports around the world.

Airbus has already targeted deploying the world’s first green hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft by 2035 as part of its ZEROe project which is exploring a variety of configurations and technologies, as well as preparing the ecosystem necessary to produce and supply hydrogen as a fuel source.

“The US has easy and massive access to additional renewable energies to produce green hydrogen, and airports are looking for a diverse and balanced energy mix to help reduce the impact of aviation on the environment. Hydrogen is a key enabler for this,” said Karine Guénan, Airbus’ vice president for ZEROe Hydrogen Ecosystem.

“The journey to prepare airport infrastructure to support hydrogen and low carbon aviation begins on the ground with studies like this one, working with pioneer players like Delta, Plug and the world’s busiest airport.”

The news came a day before Airbus, Houston Airports, and the Center for Houston’s Future (CHF) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to study the feasibility of a hydrogen hub at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas.

Consistently ranked as one of the best airports in North America and the United States, George Bush Intercontinental is not as busy as Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, seeing “only” 46.1 million passengers during 2023.

With airports seen as an important component in the decarbonisation of transport, the study will see the three partners rethink how their infrastructures could be designed and operated to reduce their overall environmental footprint and make way for hydrogen-powered aircraft.

“For hydrogen to meet its full potential, the entire airport ecosystem – including airport authorities, energy suppliers and regulatory authorities – needs to come together and collaborate,” said Karine Guénan, speaking about the Houston feasibility study.

“This joint-study will help us better understand what hydrogen infrastructure would be needed at Houston’s airport to support hydrogen and low carbon aviation in the future. What we learn here can also support knowledge around the world.”