Airbus and Kawasaki Heavy Industries signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on building a hydrogen-powered ecosystem, one of the most promising technologies for the sustainable future of aviation.
The agreement covers the various aspects of the hydrogen chain, including production, transportation, and transfer to aircraft for use during operations.
“Through this initiative, Airbus and Kawasaki will jointly prepare a roadmap to address the challenges and define a containment plan for hydrogen aviation needs. Both parties will also pioneer the deployment of a hydrogen infrastructure for aviation with a particular focus on the development of Airport Hydrogen Hubs,” Kawasaki Heavy Industries said in a statement issued after the meeting in Tokyo.
Stéphane Ginoux, president and CEO of Airbus Japan, stated that “this partnership will obviously accelerate and promote the Japanese government’s efforts to achieve a decarbonized, carbon-neutral society from overall aircraft operations by 2050 (…) We strongly believe that the use of hydrogen, both in synthetic fuels and as a primary energy source for commercial aircraft, has the potential to significantly reduce the climate impact of aviation”.
Motohiko Nishikura, executive director and deputy general manager of Kawasaki’s hydrogen strategy division, noted that the company has “specialized in the development of infrastructure for liquefaction, transportation, storage and transport to receiving terminals, contributing to the construction and expansion of supply chains for the hydrogen market. We are confident that our technology will connect the areas of hydrogen production and consumption, creating a new road called Hydrogen Road.”
The idea of the companies is to work together to leverage their extensive experience and identify opportunities for hydrogen to decarbonize the aviation industry. Airbus will provide data related to aircraft characteristics, fleet energy use and ground utilization information, they said. Meanwhile, Kawasaki will provide technology drivers in the various elements of the chain and will build implementation scenarios for airport refueling infrastructure.
