BHX Joins UK Partnership to Advance Hydrogen-Powered Aviation

Birmingham Airport (BHX) will work alongside ULEMCO, GeoPura, and Bristol Airport to design, build, and test a mobile refuelling rig capable of supporting hydrogen-electric aircraft within standard commercial turnaround times.

The HyPRIME project will also explore how liquid hydrogen can be used to power ground support equipment and provide on-site energy generation, supporting the development of more efficient and sustainable airport operations.

Operating within live airport environments, the multi-million-pound project will assess the practical procedures, safety requirements, economic considerations, and wider operational implications of introducing liquid hydrogen at commercial airports.

The findings will help inform future investment and infrastructure decisions across the UK aviation sector, providing airlines, airports, and industry partners with greater confidence in the operational requirements needed to support hydrogen-powered aircraft.

BHX’s involvement builds on its existing partnership with ZeroAvia and forms part of the airport’s long-term approach to preparing for the next generation of aviation technology.

As a capacity-ready UK gateway with available runway and terminal capacity, BHX is well positioned to support the introduction and growth of new aircraft technologies. The project will allow the airport to test hydrogen handling, storage, and refuelling processes while ensuring future infrastructure can be integrated safely and efficiently into live commercial operations.

The airport recently reported an 11% reduction in location-based greenhouse gas emissions during 2025/26 and remains committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions from its direct operations by 2033.

Through HyPRIME, BHX will combine operational testing, infrastructure planning, and industry collaboration to support the future deployment of hydrogen aviation across the UK.

Tom Denton, Head of Sustainability at Birmingham Airport, said, “Hydrogen electric aircraft are progressing quickly, and airports need to understand how this fuel can be safely and efficiently integrated into daily operations. HyPRIME gives us the opportunity to test procedures and build the knowledge required to support future zero emission flights from Birmingham. Taking part in this project helps us maintain the momentum we’ve built over the past few years and moves us that bit little closer to achieving our mission of running a lower carbon airport.”