Schiphol's Hydrogen GPU Pilot: A Step Toward Zero Emissions
Since August Schiphol Airport has been experimenting with a hydrogen-created Ground Power Unit or H2-GPU. This sophisticated system provides electricity to grounded planes and maintains instruments and illumination on board with no use of conventional fuel.
A Change from Diesel to Sustainable Power
Conventionally, GPUs at Schiphol have employed diesel-based mechanisms to produce electricity. The efforts in the sustainability of this airport include replacing most of the GPU with eGPU and installing Fixed Power Units that offer power to the aircraft that are parked on the ground. At the present time, nearly all aircraft that park at the gates use electrical power. However, not all large locations, especially the remote ones, have FPU and some of the big aircraft require diesel GPUs.
This gap is filled by the H2-GPU that Schiphol is testing as a potential zero-emission system for large planes. e-GPUs are suitable for small airplanes, such as the ones utilized by the Cityhopper, but they cannot provide sufficient computing to support the demands of more extensive planes. The H2-GPU could serve as such a system, providing a long-term solution to areas that don’t have current access to Fixed Power Units.
A World-First Innovation
The H2-GPU pilot being implemented in Schiphol is unique worldwide as a benchmark for other airports. The trial is to measure the functionality of the unit, such as refueling time, ease of use, and so on. The H2-GPU has been approved for operation and is attracting attention from airports around the world, including many that are working to reduce their emissions to zero like Schiphol. In particular, large and even medium-sized airports that have minimal or no electrical installation at the moment are excited about hydrogen engineering.
Collaboration and Development
This pilot is carried out within the TULIPS program, which is an initiative of 29 organizations operating in the field of civil aviation and research institutions from Europe. Chaired by Schiphol the aim is to step up the pace for sustainable airport solutions and new technologies by 2025. The H2-GPU was designed by Delft-based start-up Zepp Solutions in collaboration with the Austrian GPU maker Dynell. KES is responsible for GPU management and its use in Schiphol and makes sure that the pilot is successful. EU funding is also used to fund the project in its development.
Aspiration for a Zero-Emission World
The ground handling service provider at Schiphol has vowed to cease emitting any greenhouse gases and to be fully sustainable by the year 2030. The adoption of e-GPUs, the growth in shore power capacity, and the H2-GPU pilot are all strides toward this vision. Further, all diesel used at the airport has been substituted with the HVO100, a more environmentally friendly product, another victory in terms of environmental impact.
Thus, the H2-GPU pilot gives Schiphol indeed an example for other similar airports globally. The use of new technologies with the assistance of partners from around the world is becoming a significant milestone in the airport’s struggle for a cleaner future of aviation.
