The energy and aviation sectors join forces to advance in the decarbonization of air transport through green hydrogen and promote the development of technologies associated with it. Public institutions, research centers and employers of airlines and energy have signed today a protocol to advance in the use of this renewable gas. Thus they pick up the gauntlet of the Government, whose plans include turning Spain into one of the main ‘hubs’ for H2 production while meeting the climate objectives set by the European Union.
This protocol has the signature of the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda; the airport manager Aena; the European State Aviation Agency or the State Aviation Safety Agency (AESA). On the part of the aviation sector, it has the participation of the airline employers’ association, the Airlines Association (ALA) or the Spanish Association of Defense, Security, Aeronautics and Space Technology Companies (TEDAE).
From the energy sector, the Association of Oil Operators (AOP), the National Hydrogen Center (CNH2), or Gasnam-Neutral Transport have joined. The technological part is provided by the National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA), the Spanish Aerospace Technology Platform (PAE) and the Spanish Hydrogen Technology Platform (PTeH2).
Objective: Build a value chain
The alliance aims to promote the decarbonization process of air transport, once it has been confirmed that green hydrogen has become a sustainable solution and is destined to be a key energy vector in the future. Its first steps include determining the needs for development, production, storage and distribution of green H2 for aviation in Spain.
It will also promote research and development of solutions in this field and will seek to coordinate different actors in the value chain of this industry. Silvia Lazcano, spokesperson for the Alliance, has defended that hydrogen “is proving to be the winning horse as a future energy vector for heavy transport, and specifically for aeronautics, knowing that in space it has already been used for a few decades.”
The actors are aware that the use of this hydrocarbon will still be many years away: “the hydrogen value chain is being created and it is complex.” Aviation set itself the goal of reaching zero net carbon emissions in the year 2050. To achieve them, according to Lazcano, “quick actions” are needed that can develop all the links in the value chain “throughout this decade.” “The Alliance aims to facilitate and catalyze collaboration among all involved to make this a reality,” he said.
On behalf of the Government, the Secretary of State for Transport, Isabel Pardo de Vera has highlighted that green hydrogen has to “play a fundamental role” in the future of aviation, at the same time that she has highlighted that the aviation sector is “a important engine and generator of economic, social and cultural progress” for Spain.
