A new trial at Helsinki Airport seeks to test the use of hydrogen as an energy source for winter maintenance, as well as the feasibility of housing a hydrogen refuelling station in an airport environment.
The pilot, which was launched on 5 January, will see Finavia test the suitability of the alternative fuel to power a Hyzon hydrogen-powered truck, which is equipped with a plow and brush blower and will be used to clear snow the airport’s airside areas.
Part of the BSR HyAirport project, the pilot involves a number of experienced maintenance drivers and other experts, particularly those with knowledge working with vehicle fleets. All green hydrogen will be supplied by P2X Solutions from its new production facility in Harjavalta, Finland, while the refuelling equipment on the apron will be provided by MP Logistiikka from Pori, Finland.
The hydrogen truck itself has been leased from Estonian company Zerobus, and, following the pilot at Helsinki pilot, the same vehicle fleet will be used for similar testing at airports in the Baltic countries.
Sami Kiiskinen, Development Director at Finavia’s Helsinki Airport, said:Utilising hydrogen could in the future become an important part of airports’ energy transition.
Through this pilot, we are developing our expertise in hydrogen handling and gaining practical experience of how the technology performs in winter conditions in an airport environment.
The BSR HyAirport project aims to develop the use of hydrogen in airport operations, gathering data on its suitability for winter maintenance as it does so. It receives funding from the European Union’s Interreg Baltic Sea Region programme.
All results from the trial are set to be published after its completion in early 2026.
