hydrogen airports Archieven

TULIPS Progress Event in Oslo: Spotlight on Innovation and Sustainability

From 24 to 26 November, TULIPS partner Avinor hosted the second TULIPS Progress Event in Oslo. This edition focused on projects that had not yet taken centre stage during the previous event in Torino – from digital solutions for international greener travel and circularity to modular charging and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The programme combined the Progress Event with deep-dive sessions led by Work Package (WP) leads, as well as the annual General Assembly and External Advisory Board meeting. The result? A wealth of knowledge, input, and inspiration.

Rotterdam The Hague Airport Opens Liquid Hydrogen Refuelling Station for Aviation

On 24 November, Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTHA) reached an important milestone: Robert Simons, Deputy Mayor of Rotterdam, officially opened a liquid hydrogen refuelling station at the airport. This facility, developed within the European TULIPS project, marks valuable progress towards sustainable aviation and reducing CO₂ emissions. The new facility is primarily designed for research purposes. It enables the dispensing of liquid hydrogen for research and development aircraft and drones.

Pilot with Hydrogen-powered Vehicles in Daily Operations: a First at Schiphol

Schiphol launches a pilot involving a specially developed aircraft tow vehicle and a prototype of a Toyota pick-up truck with an electric engine powered by hydrogen. Schiphol also has its own temporary hydrogen refueling station to supply these vehicles with hydrogen. The tow truck and refueling station are part of the EU funded TULIPS programme. With this pilot, the airport is taking an important step towards emission-free ground operations by 2030.

TULIPS Hydrogen Event at Schiphol: A Look at the Future of Ground Handling

On Monday 8 September, TULIPS offered an exclusive first look at two groundbreaking innovations now in active use at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol: the hydrogen-electric tow truck and the hydrogen refuelling station, both located on the J-platform. This marks a major milestone for the Workpackage 4 team, who have worked tirelessly over the past years to bring these innovations to life. It’s also a significant step towards zero-emission ground handling and cleaner air on the apron.

Maiden flight of a drone on liquid hydrogen, a Dutch first

On 28 August the HYDRA II, an innovative hydrogen-powered drone of Royal NLR, has made its first successful flights using liquid hydrogen as a fuel carrier. This marks an important step towards developing more sustainable aviation by making hydrogen technology suitable for commercial applications. The next step for the HYDRA II will be the TULIPS demonstration at Rotterdam The Hague Airport, where HYDRA II will again take flight. The demo will then include refuelling.

CINEA’s Annual Review Visit to TULIPS: A Fruitful Exchange of Innovations and Insights

On the 4th and 5th of March, the TULIPS project at Schiphol had the pleasure of hosting CINEA 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.

Torino Airport’s February Highlights: TULIPS’ Visibility and Policy Impact

February was a bustling month for Torino Airport, highlighting both Torino’s and TULIPS’ technical advancements. But more important was that the TULIPS initiative gained significant recognition at local and national policy levels through various events and conferences. We are espcially proud that our hydrogen GPU (hGPU) has officially been featured in the Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC)’s national guidelines for hydrogen in airport logistics.

Hydrogen GPU supplies a KLM cityhopper with energy

Schiphol Tests World’s First Hydrogen Powered GPU

Schiphol is conducting tests with the first ever hydrogen GPU at the airport. The H2-GPU is a hydrogen-powered Ground Power Unit (GPU) that supplies stationary aircraft at the gate with electricity, which is used for lighting and power in the cockpit. Schiphol is the first airport in the world to have a working H2-GPU and to use it in its operations.

TULIPS innovations: Iron Flow Battery and H2-GPU

On June 25, we hosted a diverse group of sister airports and partners at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. The occasion was a demonstration and explanation of two groundbreaking innovations that TULIPS has been developing since the programme’s inception: the Iron Flow Battery and the Hydrogen ground power unit (H2-GPU). The Iron Flow Battery is already operational, while the H2-GPU is scheduled for upcoming tests.

Why TULIPS will test a hydrogen Ground Power Unit

Starting in June TULIPS will be testing a hydrogen Ground Power Unit in airside operations. Switching to an H2-GPU could drastically cut emissions. But there are more reasons why an H2-GPU is an interesting development for airports. Let’s dive into this innovation.