Green hydrogen will be produced by an electrolyzer being built at Groningen Airport Eelde as an emission-free energy carrier for light aircraft, drones, and ground equipment.
The airport said that production will begin no later than October 2023. WAviatER (hydrogen production technology for the aviation sector and regional energy applications) is the name of the project, which is being carried out by a coalition of northern parties.
The European Union has designated the Northern Netherlands as a key hub for the development of hydrogen technology, and the region has been dubbed “Hydrogen Valley.” Groningen Airport Eelde is involved in a number of environmental projects in the region. This involves the airport’s Hydrogen Valley Airport project, the New Energy Coalition, the University of Groningen, and other stakeholders, in addition to the current solar park. Hydrogen Valley Airport is already taking shape thanks to WAviatER, a 3.5 million euro project.
Electrolyzers
The creation of ‘green’ hydrogen takes occurs in an electrolyzer, which splits water into hydrogen and oxygen using green power. On a modest scale, this technique is not yet competitive with the large-scale, natural gas-based synthesis of ‘grey’ hydrogen. Small to medium-sized electrolyzers that produce green hydrogen at a reasonable cost are required for decentralized applications. Furthermore, it is critical that the electrolyzers themselves are sustainable, and that they are not reliant on the usage of precious and costly metals, as certain types of electrolyzers are.
As a result, the WAviatER partnership will create a scalable and long-term electrolyzer for the airport. It must be less expensive to buy than current alternatives, have superior efficiency, needs no rare or important metals, and be automated serial manufacturing.
The project will operate until October 2023, at which point a working installation at Groningen Airport Eelde will be required. Jonas van Dorp, head of Aviation Marketing & Development at Groningen Airport Eelde, states, “Our objective is to develop a full system for the production, delivery, and use of hydrogen.” “This puts us closer to producing green hydrogen, and we are increasingly expanding the airport into a regional energy center, including the extension of the solar park.” As Hydrogen Valley Airport, we want to be the most sustainable airport in the field of green hydrogen by 2030.”
