March 2025
On the 4th and 5th of March, the TULIPS project at Schiphol had the pleasure of hosting CINEA (the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency) for the annual project review. This visit was an excellent opportunity to showcase our progress, share valuable insights, and discuss future steps in our collaborative efforts towards zero waste and zero emission airports.
Day 1: Workpackage and Demo Updates
On the first day, the respective workpackage leads provided updates on various topics, including finances, communication, key exploitable results, and, of course, the demonstrations. Successful demos were highlighted, such as the hydrogen GPU and the findings from the Iron Flow battery pilot. However, practical challenges were also discussed, like the delayed delivery of the hydrogen drone for the hydrogen flight test at RTHA.
Day 2: Synergy Between EU Projects
The second day focused on the synergy between various EU projects that Schiphol Group is involved in. Despite the differences, we identified many commonalities that offer opportunities to share knowledge and strengthen each other. For instance, experiences from the Albatros project with the diesel Taxibot are being incorporated into the HERON project, which is also working on more sustainable taxiing operations. Additionally, the TULIPS experience with hydrogen permits could potentially save the GOLIAT project time, as it works on a demo involving a large amount of hydrogen. This collaborative approach ensures we make the most of each other’s findings.
Circular Initiatives Terminal Tour
We concluded the CINEA visit with a tour of the Schiphol terminal, highlighting circular initiatives from Workpackage 6. CINEA then received a sneak preview of the trial we are conducting at the G-pier with stickers on the waste bins. This trial aims to determine if these stickers make it easier for international travellers to separate waste. Since only 20% of waste is actual residual waste, better separation could significantly increase recycling rates. The collaboration with Schiphol F&B concessionaires was also discussed, with plans to incorporate more plant-based products into their offerings. Finally, Heijmans and EME demonstrated the materials marketplace we previously wrote about.
In short, it was a full programme but a highly fruitful visit, paving the way for continued innovation and collaboration in sustainable airports and aviation.
