Manchester plans to become the first UK airport with a direct pipeline supply of low carbon hydrogen ‘superfuel’.
Seen as playing a key role in decarbonising the aviation sector, hydrogen-powered aircraft are expected to come into operation from the mid-2030s for short-haul flights.
A research project involving Manchester Airports Group (MAG) estimated that the demand for liquid hydrogen at an airport the size of Manchester could be 6.5 million litres a day by 2050.
As a first step, the airport has agreed a partnership with HyNet – a leading government-backed industrial decarbonisation project.
The airport has signed a memorandum of understanding with the two founding partners of HyNet – Progressive Energy, which develops projects to decarbonise the energy sector, and Cadent, which will build and operate HyNet’s hydrogen pipeline network.
The partners aim to deliver hydrogen to the aviation sector at the “earliest opportunity,” including through the connection of Manchester airport to a pipeline being developed by HyNet.
They will collaborate to assess the future demand for hydrogen for aviation and explore the feasibility to connect Manchester airport to HyNet’s regional network.
With this connection, the airport aims to be the first to establish a direct pipeline of hydrogen, to supply any of its 60-plus airlines with the sustainable fuel, forming a key component of wider plans to decarbonise flying.
The process also aims to drive innovation and the creation of green jobs for the region.
The development has been backed by aviation minister Baroness Vere and energy and climate change minister Graham Stuart, as well as the Northern Powerhouse Partnership and North West Hydrogen Alliance.
Manchester airport managing director Chris Woodroofe said: “This announcement demonstrates the meaningful action we are taking to ensure we can deliver a carbon-free future for the aviation industry.
“The partnership between Manchester airport and HyNet is a significant step forward for the future use of hydrogen across the North West, building a more sustainable future for the region.
“By securing a direct supply of hydrogen for our airport, our 60 airlines will be able to make use of this exciting and ground-breaking technology as soon as possible.
“The use of hydrogen will make a significant contribution to the UK aviation sector’s decarbonisation efforts and supports industry partners in reaching net zero.”
Baroness Vere added: “Hydrogen offers great potential to decarbonise flying, but we need the right infrastructure at our airports to help harness that opportunity.
“We are funding the multi-million pound zero emission flight infrastructure project, which has already published important findings, and it’s great to see industry now pushing ahead in this area to make zero emission flight a reality.”
Stuart said: “Set to be the new superfuel of the future, hydrogen will be essential in powering UK industries, including the aviation sector, as we move toward ending our dependency on fossil fuels.
“This new partnership is an exciting step that will help put the North West at the heart of efforts to make the UK a world-leading hydrogen economy.”