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Hydrogen Supply Networks‘ Evolution for Air Transport – Final Project Report
Citation Link: https://doi.org/10.15480/882.16481
Publikationstyp
Research Report
Date Issued
2025-12-15
Sprache
English
Author(s)
Fiedler, Karen
Manke, Lisa-Marie
Kade, Andreas
TORE-DOI
Citation
HyNEAT Project, Hydrogen Supply Networks‘ Evolution for Air Transport – Final Project Report, 2025.
Publisher DOI
Publisher Link
This report provides a comprehensive assessment of the potential for a liquid hydrogen (LH2 ) supply infrastructure for hydrogen (H2 )-powered aviation in Europe. H2 is a key defossilization tool and will be critical for emission reduction in aviation, either through direct use as a fuel or as a feedstock for sustainable aviation fuels. Rather than advocating for H2-powered aviation as the main solution, this report explores how such an LH2 supply infrastructure could be realized, what implications it would entail, and how it might interact with the broader European energy system. To capture the inherent uncertainties in technology development and policy commitment, we developed a series of scenarios for the uptake of H2 –powered aircraft: the Baseline, Ambitious Policy, and Moonshot scenario. Using a system dynamics model, we determined the future LH2 demands for a European airport network for these scenarios. In order to meet these demands as cost-effectively as possible, we developed a H2 supply network model which determines the cost optimal supply network for a target picture in the year 2050 as well as the transition path to reach that target picture. The supply network can consist of multiple H2 supply routes available for the airports (on-site LH2 production, GH2 pipelines, LH2 trucks and LH2 vessels). The potential H2 supply volumes and costs are determined using an energy system transition model which is used to evaluate the integration of H2 production into the general energy system transformation on three perspectives: International H2 import options, H2 production within the European energy system as well as the impact of LH2 supply for aviation on the local energy system. As LH2 availability and supply costs vary greatly between airports, we use a flight network model to evaluate how these costs influence the future flight networks. The study also includes the ecological evaluation using a life cycle assessment to determine the ecological impact of H2 production and compare the different supply routes. In addition, we examine potential business models, stakeholder perspectives, and policy instruments to support this transition, with the goal of informing decision-making in industry, policy, and science. Finally, the macroeconomic impact of implementing such a supply infrastructure is analysed using a Social Accounting Matrix (SAM)-based multiplier model.
Subjects
Hydrogen
H2-powered aviation
Liquid hydrogen
Energy system analysis
Hydrogen flight networks
DDC Class
620: Engineering
Funding Organisations
More Funding Information
The project HyNEAT – Hydrogen Supply Networks‘ Evolution for Air Transport is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) in the field of energy research programme. The project is supervised by Project Management Jülich (PtJ).
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HyNEAT_Final_Project_Report-1.pdf
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20.59 MB
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