Airbus-led GOLIAT project to explore hydrogen ground ops

Known as GOLIAT (Ground Operations of LIquid hydrogen AircrafT), the project is aiming to demonstrate the safe handling of liquid hydrogen (LH2) at three European airports. Over the course of its four-year programme, GOLIAT partners will develop LH2 refuelling for small-scale hydrogen aircraft, with a view to scaling up the technology for larger commercial aircraft in the future. The project will also look to develop an LH2 standardisation and certification framework, as well as assess the sizing and economics of the hydrogen value chains for airports.

LH2’s high energy density has the potential to enable low-carbon aviation, but there are many challenges to the widespread deployment of hydrogen at airports, including the need to better understand the operational, regulatory, economic and safety impacts. GOLIAT will attempt to answer some of these questions.

“We continue to believe that hydrogen will be an important fuel for the future of short-haul aviation,” said Karine Guenan, vice president of ZEROe Ecosystem, Airbus.

“We welcome the opportunity to help build the operating case for the widespread daily use of liquid hydrogen at airports.”

GOLIAT will receive €10.8 million from the EU’s Horizon Europe Framework Programme over its duration. The consortium features a total of 10 partners from across eight countries: Airbus (France, Germany, UK), Chart Industries (Czech Republic, Italy), TU Delft (Netherlands), Leibniz University Hannover (Germany), Royal Schiphol Group (Netherlands), Rotterdam The Hague Airport (Netherlands), Vinci Airports (France, Portugal), Stuttgart Airport (Germany), H2FLY (Germany), and Budapest Airport (Hungary).  

“Leveraging our experience in the HEAVEN project, where we completed the world's first piloted flight of a liquid hydrogen-powered electric aircraft, we look forward to contributing our expertise in LH2 operations to GOLIAT,” said Josef Kallo, co-founder and CEO, H2FLY:

“We believe in the potential of hydrogen to transform aviation and are committed to supporting its adoption for a sustainable future. GOLIAT marks another important step in our journey toward decarbonizing the aviation industry, and we are excited to be part of this important initiative."