Schiphol – a Corporate Partner of the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub – is the first airport worldwide to conduct tests with a hydrogen-powered Ground Power Unit (GPU). The H2-GPU is being used to supply KLM Cityhopper aircraft on the apron with electricity, which is used for lighting and power in the cockpit. This world first is part of the TULIPS partnership initiated by Schiphol and co-funded by the European Commission.
“I am extremely proud that we are the first airport in the world to test this innovation,” said Sybren Hahn, Executive Director Infrastructure, Schiphol. “The hydrogen-powered GPU fits within our ambition for our own ground activities to be emission-free in 2030. Through continuous innovation and improvement, we can contribute to better air quality for our employees and the local environment.”
Together with ground handling companies and the aviation sector, Schiphol is working towards an emission-free operation. Some stationary aircraft at the gates are already receiving power from e-GPUs (electrical Ground Power Units). These e-GPUs have to be taken to special charging points in order to be charged. The new H2-GPU can be refuelled onsite by a tanker, which saves significant time. In addition, the e-GPUs sometimes have insufficient capacity, meaning diesel GPUs remain necessary. Besides the switch to the cleaner HVO100 diesel, Schiphol continues to look for an emission-free solution for aircraft, such as the hydrogen GPU.
“It is important that we develop hydrogen-powered equipment to achieve an emission-free ground operation,” said Maarten Koopmans, Managing Director, KLM Cityhopper. “Today’s battery solutions do not always meet operational requirements. At KLM Cityhopper, we work hard with our partners on technological solutions that we can ultimately use as standard in our operations. I therefore consider it an honour that we can be the first to test the new hydrogen GPU.”
The pilot is being carried out in collaboration with KLM and various partners and is partly subsidised by the EU. The H2-GPU was developed by Zepp.solutions, a scale-up from Delft, and the Austrian GPU manufacturer Dynell. KES manages the GPU pool at Schiphol and oversees its use among the various handling companies.
Hear more from Schiphol Group at FTE Global – the “CES of Aviation” taking place in Los Angeles on 28-30 October 2024. Zahra Merchant, Chapter Lead Robotics, Schiphol Group, is participating in ‘The FTE Robotics & Autonomous Vehicles Symposium’.
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