Research at Newcastle University examined hydrogen-powered ground support equipment (GSE) for its environmental, operational and health benefits, and concluded that hydrogen is a promising option for supporting airport decarbonisation. It pointed to benefits including zero exhaust emissions at the point of use, quieter operation, faster refuelling than battery-powered vehicles and the ability to operate for long periods without recharging. It reported that airport partners were strongly supportive of hydrogen-powered GSE, seeing it as a clean and practical alternative to diesel.
Reference:
Zhang, Y., Li, S., Blythe, P., & Edwards, S. (2025). Accelerating airport decarbonisation: Qualitative investigation of stakeholders’ perceptions and requirements towards hydrogen-powered ground support equipment. Journal of the Air Transport Research Society, 6, 100097. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jatrs.2025.100097
