A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed by Airbus, Snam, and SAVE to promote the use of hydrogen as a sustainable energy carrier in the airport and air transport sectors.
Starting with Marco Polo airport in Venice, which is managed by SAVE, all three companies will share a common strategy aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from airport activities. The collaboration between these companies will span several areas, beginning with future needs and technological options and progressing to the identification of technical and implementation solutions that will be tested in pilot projects before being scaled up.
“This collaboration with Airbus and SAVE – said Marco Alverà, CEO of Snam – is aimed at supporting one of Italy’s most important airports, in an iconic city like Venice, in moving towards the goal of zero emissions. This initiative is part of our commitment to contributing to the decarbonization of airports and is also coherent with the projects that we would like to develop in the area as part of the ‘Venice World Sustainability Capital’ Foundation, of which Snam is one of the founding members. Hydrogen is a key solution for promoting environmental sustainability and the competitiveness of airports, ports, heavy and maritime transport and all the ‘hard-to-abate’ sectors. Snam is committed to investing in technology, network development and integrated projects to foster the development of a national hydrogen value chain, accelerating the energy transition”.
“This agreement with Snam and Airbus is a key step along the path taken by our Group with a view to the ecological transition and decarbonisation of its airports” said Monica Scarpa, CEO of SAVE Group – “The specific nature and value of this project to study and apply hydrogen in the aviation sector, consist, in particular, in sharing expertise covering the entire chain, from production, storage, supply and use for commercial aeronautics of this fuel, which can make a major contribution to the energy challenge facing our planet. For Venice airport, it means making an active contribution to the effort to reduce harmful emissions, in line with our city’s goal of becoming an international sustainability capital”.
The agreement’s engineering and design studies will include the technological infrastructure required to refuel both aircraft and airport vehicles with hydrogen, as well as the possibility of evaluating effective solutions for energy needs related to airport accessibility, resulting in a zero-emission airport system. It is also possible to activate an intermodal synergy with road and rail transportation.
Together, Snam, SAVE, and Airbus will be able to develop innovative hydrogen-based technologies and end-to-end solutions aimed at both Venice Airport and other potential users, as well as participate in national and European grant programs and public tenders.
Where applicable, this agreement will be subject to subsequent binding agreements defined by the parties in accordance with applicable legislation and regulatory profiles.
