On 14 October, Riga will host the international BSR Hydrogen Aviation Conference, bringing together aviation, transport and hydrogen technology experts and industry representatives from across Europe. The conference will present the results of the international BSR HyAirport project and provide a platform for discussions on the potential use of green hydrogen in aviation and airport operations.
The conference programme will address the European Union’s hydrogen strategy and hydrogen-related initiatives at European airports, while focusing particularly on the results and practical experience gained through the BSR HyAirport project. Experts will present findings on the regulatory framework required for the implementation of hydrogen technologies, hydrogen supply chains and business models, the handling of hydrogen-powered aircraft, and the use of hydrogen-powered ground support equipment at airports. A dedicated discussion will explore the future development and application of hydrogen technologies in the airport sector.
The conference will feature experts from Hamburg Airport, Riga Airport, Swedavia, Finavia, Rotterdam The Hague Airport and Airports Council International Europe (ACI EUROPE), alongside representatives of other companies and organisations. Experts will also share their practical experience in testing hydrogen technologies, while aircraft manufacturer Beyond Aero will present its perspective on the development of hydrogen-powered aircraft.
Over the three-year BSR HyAirport project, RIX Riga Airport has been directly involved both in examining the EU regulatory framework for the introduction of hydrogen technologies and in conducting practical trials under real-life airfield operating conditions. Hydrogen-powered ground support equipment tested at Riga Airport has included baggage tractors and airfield snow-removal equipment. The project has also enabled the hydrogen refuelling process to be tested in an operational airfield environment. Before the project concludes, Riga Airport also plans to test an electrolyser for hydrogen production.
The conference in Riga will mark the conclusion of the nearly three-year international project BSR Hydrogen Air Transport – Preparation of Baltic Sea Region Airports for Green Hydrogen (BSR HyAirport). The project aims to build a knowledge and practical experience base for the use of hydrogen technologies in aviation, covering regulatory requirements and operational processes, green gaseous hydrogen supply chains and the adaptation of airport infrastructure.
“International research and development projects provide Riga Airport with a unique opportunity to gain access to knowledge, technologies and partnerships that would be much more difficult for us to develop independently. Rather than simply observing how the industry is evolving, we are actively involved in testing and developing new solutions. The experience and knowledge we gain help us prepare for technological change and make well-informed decisions about the future development of Riga Airport,” says Laila Odiņa, Chairperson of the Board of Riga Airport.
The BSR Hydrogen Aviation Conference will take place on 14 October at the House of Nature of the University of Latvia, Jelgavas iela 1, Riga, starting at 11:30. Registration is open until 7 October via the registration form: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/CUpj9PyhrA
The project is being implemented by 16 partners from Sweden, Finland, the Baltic States, Poland and Germany, as well as another 24 associated organisations.