Airbus and a consortium of leading companies and academic partners have launched the GOLIAT (Ground Operations of LIquid hydrogen Aircraft) project to research and test the handling and refueling of liquid hydrogen (LH2) at airports. With a budget of 10,8 million euros from the EU Horizon Europe program, the project is intended to develop technologies over four years that will advance the decarbonization of aviation.
The consortium, consisting of 10 partners from eight countries, will demonstrate LH2 refueling technologies at airports on a smaller scale, with a focus on future large-volume commercial aircraft. The first test flights are planned at the airports in Stuttgart, Budapest and Rotterdam The Hague.
“Hydrogen has the potential to fundamentally transform aviation and contribute to a sustainable future,” said Josef Kallo, co-founder of H2FLY. Karine Guenan from Airbus highlighted the importance of hydrogen in decarbonizing short-haul aviation.
The project will not only develop technical solutions, but also create standards and certification frameworks for future LH2 operations. This is a crucial step towards reducing CO2 emissions from aviation and promoting Europe's energy independence.
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