Airports in the Netherlands Will Start With Electric Flying
Eindhoven Airport, Rotterdam The Hague Airport and Groningen Airport Eelde are going to carry out tests with electric flying. The trial is supported by the Royal Schiphol Group and NLR – Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre. In the shared learning environment ‘Power Up’, the aim is for the airports to gain knowledge of the feasibility, potential and handling of electric flights. The test results will be used for research into the operation of scheduled flights with aircraft powered by electricity, to connect regions and create a dense network within Europe. It is expected that the first electric passenger flights will be operated between airports in the Netherlands within five years.
President & CEO of the Royal Schiphol Group, Dick Benschop, said:In this way, the Dutch airports are creating a learning environment for electric flying and, at this early stage, are starting to develop knowledge in the field. With The Netherlands as the testing ground for aviation, the knife cuts two ways, our international competitive position and employment opportunities grow, and our knowledge base and business climate are strengthened.
Potential Of Electric Flying
Electric flying is a technically and economically feasible, and fast means of transport to connect regions, initially 500 kilometres apart, and with the potential of extending to 1000-kilometre distances. This became apparent from research recently carried out by M3 Consultancy, the results of which point to the rapid development of this technology. The aim is to first experiment with 4-seater to 9-seater aircraft in the Netherlands, and eventually to build a dense European network and to operate with larger aircraft.
CEO of Eindhoven Airport, Roel Hellemons, said:With this trial, we wish to jointly play an active role in the development of innovations in aviation. We are starting in the Netherlands where we can gain knowledge and experience in a controlled environment so that it can be used in the further rollout of electric flying within Europe. The trial is also important for the region. In addition to the fast connections that are created, electric flying offers opportunities for the Brainport region in terms of employment in, for example, charging systems.
CEO of Rotterdam The Hague Airport, Ron Louwerse, said:We are extremely proud to join this consortium. As one of the drivers of aviation innovation with our Rotterdam The Hague Innovation Airport (RHIA) foundation, we have been developing small aircraft powered by electricity for just over two years, together with Royal NLR and TU Delft, via (hybrid) electric, but also with hydrogen. We are happy to contribute our data and research results and we will gladly continue to develop electric passenger air transport together with our existing partnerships and expertise in this consortium. With several Dutch airports working together, we hope to be able to speed up this process.
Cooperation in the Regions
The trial is supported by Brainport Development and Brabant Development Agency. For the project Power Up, the airports are looking for collaboration with innovative companies and start-ups. Power Up offers economic opportunities for the regions and for business, by entering into innovative partnerships. We are talking about, for example, opportunities in the field of Battery technology, electric aircraft engines and charging systems, and possibilities in the field of hydrogen technology and infrastructure. More about the regional opportunities can be found in the appendices to this press release.
CEO of Groningen Airport Eelde, Meiltje de Groot, said:Groningen Airport Eelde launched the NXT Airport initiative in January. We have the ambition to make the airport more sustainable. This cooperation fits in perfectly with our ambition: electric flights from Groningen Airport Eelde within five years! We believe it is important to do this together with other airports, so that sustainable connections are created between the important regions in Europe in the future. In the north of The Netherlands we have a great deal of knowledge and initiatives in the field of hydrogen technology. Groningen Airport Eelde will therefore focus on the potential of electric flying on green hydrogen.
This article was originally published by Schiphol.
