Zero Emission Flight Infrastructure Demonstrations

Over the course of 6 months, Connected Places Catapult commissioned three demonstrations to understand the readiness of hydrogen and battery electric technologies in airport environments. Four companies with various expertise were chosen to run live trials at 5 different airports. These demonstrations were key in supporting the overarching goal of the Zero Emission Flight Infrastructure (ZEFI) project to showcase either new or existing technologies and their introduction in airport infrastructure. By enabling cooperation between the aviation industry stakeholders and stimulating progress through funding, these successful demonstrations have proved that the transition to renewable and sustainable energy sources can take place sooner than we think.

NEBOAir/Nuncats

Connected Places Catapult, in partnership with NEBOAir/Nuncats have delivered the first electric solar recharge in the UK with a subsequent flight and completely off-grid. This demonstration uses existing technology and proves that airfields can lead the way in the transition to electrification.

ZeroAvia

Connected Places Catapult, in partnership with ZeroAvia, have built the first landside to airside hydrogen refuelling pipeline with a trolley for aircraft refuelling. Being the first in the UK to operate at high pressure, the pipeline enables the full ecosystem use of hydrogen in an airport environment; from production, storage, and to the aircraft for refuelling.

Ricardo

Connected Places Catapult, in partnership with Ricardo, undertook electrical monitoring at 3 sample airports to understand the complexity of electrical infrastructure and to analyse gathered data in order to help airport decision makers when planning airport upgrades. Sumbrough, Inverness and Glasgow were chosen as representative of small, medium and large size airports to gain an accurate picture of the electrical architecture and a more complete data set.