The MoU will identify opportunities to use hydrogen across a range of different operations at the Marco Polo airport including within the airport infrastructure itself and air transport.
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The partnership will cover a number of areas, starting with future needs and technological options, leading to the identification of technical and implementation solutions that will be tested through pilot projects and then extended to a large scale.
Including within this will be engineering and design studies to develop the required infrastructure necessary to refuel both aircraft and airport vehicles with hydrogen.
There will also be studies into the possibility of evaluating effective solutions for energy needs related to airport accessibility, making the entire airport system zero-emission.
Together, Snam, SAVE and Airbus will be able to develop innovative technologies and end-to-end solutions based on hydrogen and aimed at both Venice airport and other potential users, also by participating in grant programs and public tenders at both national and European level.
Marco Alverà, CEO of Snam, said, “This collaboration with Airbus and SAVE – said– is aimed at supporting one of Italy’s most important airports, in an iconic city like Venice, in moving towards the goal of zero emissions.
“This initiative is part of our commitment to contributing to the decarbonisation of airports and is also coherent with the projects that we would like to develop in the area as part of the ‘Venice World Sustainability Capital’ Foundation, of which Snam is one of the founding members.
“Hydrogen is a key solution for promoting environmental sustainability and the competitiveness of airports, ports, heavy and maritime transport and all the ‘hard-to-abate’ sectors.
“Snam is committed to investing in technology, network development and integrated projects to foster the development of a national hydrogen value chain, accelerating the energy transition.”
A seismic shift for aviation: Airbus sets its sights on hydrogen powering the future of aircraft
Representing approximately 2.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, the aviation industry is in need of a disruptive change to its ‘business as usual’ if it is to meet its net zero objectives by 2050. One energy carrier emerging as a game-changing contender in the transformation of the sector is hydrogen, and Airbus is ready to be the catalyst for change.
With a 50-year track record of innovation, technological firsts and industry milestones, the designer and manufacturer of aerospace products, services and solutions to a customer base worldwide has indeed been ‘making it fly’ since the 1960s. In 1972, Airbus’ first aircraft, and the world’s first wide-body twin-aisle commercial aircraft, the A300B, performed its maiden flight, which at the time signalled the first steps towards changing the face of modern aviation. And Airbus is once again set to transform flight.
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