August 2024
Schiphol Airport has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first airport globally to test a hydrogen-powered Ground Power Unit (GPU) connected to an aircraft. This innovative H2-GPU is currently supplying electricity to KLM Cityhopper aircraft on the apron, providing power for lighting and cockpit operations. This groundbreaking initiative is part of the TULIPS partnership, spearheaded by Schiphol and co-funded by the European Union.
Emission free solution for aircraft
Together with ground handling companies and the aviation sector, Schiphol is working towards an emission-free operation. Some stationary aircraft at the gates are already receiving power from e-GPUs (electrical Ground Power Units). These e-GPUs have to be taken to special charging points in order to be charged. The new H2-GPU can be refuelled on site by a tanker, which saves significant time. In addition, the e-GPUs sometimes have insufficient capacity, meaning diesel GPUs remain necessary. Besides the switch to the cleaner HVO100 diesel we continue to look for an emission-free solution for aircraft, such as the hydrogen GPU.
Leadership and Innovation
Sybren Hahn, Executive Director Infrastructure at Schiphol, expressed his pride in this world-first innovation: “The hydrogen-powered GPU aligns with our ambition to achieve emission-free ground activities by 2030. Through continuous innovation and improvement, we can contribute to better air quality for our employees and the local environment.”
Maarten Koopmans, Managing Director of KLM Cityhopper, emphasised the importance of developing hydrogen-powered equipment: “Today’s battery solutions do not always meet operational requirements. At KLM Cityhopper, we are dedicated to working with our partners on technological solutions that can be standardised in our operations. It is an honor to be the first to test the new hydrogen GPU.”
Compliments to the TULIPS team
Nadine Muecklich of Fraunhofer IML is the Workpackage 4 teamlead: “I’m am thrilled that we as the TULIPS team take this innovative step. Hydrogen-powered GPUs represent a significant advancement towards emission-free ground operations. This innovative solution not only improves efficiency but also sets new sustainability standards in aviation, contributing to better air quality, less noise, and a greener future.”
Collaboration
The pilot is being carried out in collaboration with KLM and various partners and is partly subsidised by the EU. The H2-GPU was developed by Zepp.solutions, a scale-up from Delft, and the Austrian GPU manufacturer Dynell. KES manages the GPU pool at Schiphol and oversees its use among the various handling companies.
TULIPS project
Schiphol coordinates the TULIPS project funded by the European Commission. In this partnership of 33 European aviation parties and knowledge institutes, new technologies and procedures are being developed that will accelerate the sustainability of airport operations. In addition to the development of this H2 GPU, the project is also working on large-scale SAF deliveries, sustainable energy storage and circular material solutions that contribute to the objectives of the EU Green Deal.
More information
- Read the press release in the Schiphol newsroom.
- If you are interested in hearing the Workpackage 4 story on the preliminary results of the demo, then join us onsite or online at the TULIPS Progress event in October in Turin.
- Read the TULIPS article