Ports of Jersey, Blue Islands Limited and Universal Hydrogen Co. have announced a collaboration to power flights to and from Jersey Airport with hydrogen.
Blue Islands Limited, who operates flights within the Channel Islands as well as to and from the UK, has signed a letter of intent to purchase five Universal Hydrogen ATR 72 aircraft conversion kits.
Universal Hydrogen’s fuel services will also supply hydrogen using modular capsules, without the need to make changes to existing airport infrastructure.
To support this move to include hydrogen-powered flight, Universal Hydrogen and Ports of Jersey have signed a complementary agreement to support Blue Islands’s operations at Jersey Airport.
This will include hydrogen provision, airport ground handling and storage, operating procedures and supporting regulatory requirements.
“Sustainability is one of the biggest challenges of our times and, for anyone involved in the travel industry, the conversation is not an easy one. Every airport has a hugely important role to play, and we will play ours. As part of our ‘Ports Planet and People Plan’ that we shared earlier this year, we are committed to meaningful action that makes a difference, and we are making really encouraging progress.
“Coming together with industry partners, Government and our customers, we can have a much bigger impact. The speed of the innovation needed to achieve zero emission flights is incredible and it is gathering pace. This partnership aligns perfectly with our objectives and our commitment to ensure that Jersey plays its part in the decarbonisation of aviation.”
The collaboration aims to stimulate demand for hydrogen in Jersey while ensuring that new hydrogen infrastructure is not a barrier to adopting this fuel technology.
Universal Hydrogen believes that Jersey is well-positioned to produce hydrogen in what it considers a sustainable fashion because a large part of the island’s electricity grid is supplied by ‘low carbon’ electricity, meaning electricity generated from hydro, nuclear, wind and solar.
