Airports face growing pressure to reduce emissions while maintaining safe, resilient, and efficient operations. As passenger numbers increase and airside activity intensifies, so does demand for reliable power. A recent report from Connected Places Catapult, Decarbonising Airside Operations, sets out how airports can cut emissions from ground operations and improve air quality without compromising performance.
The report highlights a clear reality. Electrification plays a vital role, but it cannot deliver full decarbonisation on its own. Grid constraints, high-duty operational requirements, and the need for continuous power mean airports must adopt complementary clean energy solutions. Hydrogen, and specifically GeoPura’s Hydrogen Power Units (HPUs), offer a practical way forward.
Why Airside Operations Matter
Airside operations account for a significant proportion of airport emissions. Ground support equipment, service vehicles, auxiliary power units, and temporary generators often rely on diesel engines that operate close to terminals, aircraft, and staff. These systems contribute to carbon emissions, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter at ground level.
The Catapult report identifies airside decarbonisation as a high-impact opportunity. Many of these assets operate for long hours with minimal tolerance for downtime. While battery-electric equipment works well for some use cases, others require longer runtimes, fast turnaround, and dependable power delivery.
The Limits of Electrification and the Grid Challenge
Electrification remains central to airport decarbonisation strategies, yet the report highlights a major constraint: grid capacity. Many airports already operate at or near the limits of their electrical connections. Adding large numbers of chargers, electric vehicles, and digital systems increases demand faster than grid upgrades can be delivered.
Reinforcing grid infrastructure is costly, disruptive, and time-intensive. In constrained locations, this can delay decarbonisation programmes and restrict operational flexibility. As a result, airports need solutions that supplement the grid rather than rely on it entirely.
Supplementing Grid Capacity with GeoPura HPUs
GeoPura’s HPUs are designed to work alongside existing electrical infrastructure, providing zero-emission supplementary power where grid capacity is limited. Each HPU combines a hydrogen fuel cell with an integrated battery, allowing it to respond dynamically to fluctuating loads.
For airports, this delivers several practical advantages:
- Additional power during peak operational periods without overloading the grid
- Support for new electric assets before permanent grid upgrades are completed
- Replacement of diesel generators traditionally used for temporary or backup power
Because HPUs generate electricity through an electrochemical process rather than combustion, they produce no carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, or particulate emissions at the point of use. This makes them suitable for airside environments where air quality and worker exposure are critical considerations.
Enabling EV and Battery Recharging on Site
As airports transition to electric ground support equipment and service vehicles, access to reliable charging becomes essential. The Catapult report notes that charging infrastructure often becomes a limiting factor, particularly in areas with restricted grid capacity or limited space for permanent installations.
GeoPura HPUs enable on-site EV and battery recharging without increasing demand on constrained grid connections. HPUs can power fast chargers, recharge battery-electric equipment, and support hybrid energy systems in both permanent and temporary locations.
This approach allows airports to:
- Maintain availability of electric vehicles and equipment in grid-constrained zones
- Deploy mobile or temporary charging hubs where operational needs change
- Scale electrification programmes faster, without waiting for grid reinforcement
By smoothing peak demand and providing local generation, HPUs help stabilise on-site energy systems while supporting wider electrification goals.
Resilience for Mission-Critical Operations
Operational resilience remains non-negotiable in aviation. The Catapult report stresses the importance of energy systems that can operate independently when required. GeoPura HPUs include built-in battery capacity that provides uninterruptible power, ensuring continuity during grid interruptions or peak demand events.
Unlike diesel generators, HPUs operate quietly and cleanly, improving working conditions for airside staff while reducing noise impacts on surrounding communities.
Hydrogen-Powered Equipment on the Airside
Beyond power generation, hydrogen also plays an increasing role in directly powering airside equipment. The Catapult report identifies hydrogen fuel cells as a strong option for applications that demand long operating hours, rapid refuelling, and consistent power output.
Hydrogen-powered ground support equipment uses a fuel cell electric drivetrain. Hydrogen stored onboard is converted into electricity, which powers electric motors and auxiliary systems. The only by-product is water, eliminating harmful exhaust emissions at the point of use.
Typical applications under development or early deployment include:
- Aircraft tugs and pushback tractors
- Baggage handling vehicles and loaders
- High-utilisation airside service vehicles
- Mobile power units supporting aircraft on stand
Compared with battery-only alternatives, hydrogen-powered equipment offers longer runtimes and fast refuelling, which suits the continuous nature of airport operations. This reduces downtime and avoids the need for oversized batteries or extensive charging buffers. Supplying Low-Carbon Hydrogen and On-Site Refuelling
Alongside clean power generation, GeoPura also produces and supplies low-carbon hydrogen, enabling a fully integrated approach to airside decarbonisation. Hydrogen is produced at certified low-carbon sites and delivered through a managed supply chain that prioritises reliability, traceability, and operational safety.
For airports introducing hydrogen-powered ground support equipment, GeoPura can support on-site hydrogen storage and refuelling. This allows hydrogen-powered vehicles and equipment to refuel quickly within the airside environment, maintaining high utilisation rates and avoiding disruption to operations. By combining low-carbon hydrogen supply, on-site refuelling, and Hydrogen Power Units, GeoPura supports a joined-up energy system that replaces diesel across both power generation and vehicle operations. This integrated model reduces emissions, improves air quality, and enables airports to scale hydrogen adoption in a controlled and resilient way.
Building a Long-Term Hydrogen Strategy
The report positions hydrogen as a strategic energy carrier for aviation infrastructure, not only for future aircraft but for ground operations and power systems today. Early adoption allows airports to develop operational experience, supply chains, and safety frameworks ahead of wider sector transition.
GeoPura’s green hydrogen is produced using low-carbon energy sources, ensuring emissions reductions extend beyond the airport boundary. Combined with HPUs, hydrogen offers a credible route to immediate emissions reduction while supporting long-term net zero ambitions.
If you are planning airport decarbonisation, managing grid constraints, or expanding electric and hydrogen ground operations, GeoPura can help. Speak to our team to explore how hydrogen and HPUs can support clean, reliable power at your airport and accelerate progress towards net zero.
Share this Post
