In order to achieve the European Union's goal of being climate-neutral in all sectors by 2050, the aviation sector must provide alternative fuels to fossil paraffin. In addition to synthetic jet-fuel, so-called Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) for long-haul flights, liquid hydrogen for short and medium-haul flights is a promising energy source for green aviation. While SAFs can continue to use the existing jet-fuel infrastructure, a second new infrastructure must be built at existing airports for liquid hydrogen. In future, decision-makers will have to decide whether an aircraft should be supplied with hydrogen via an underground pipeline and hydrant network or whether aircraft should be refuelled with hydrogen by bowsers.
The aim of the project is to develop a tool for decision-makers to help them decide which of the two systems should be built at an individual airport. Based on techniques from the field of operations management, a mathematical optimisation model is to be developed which, depending on the forecast hydrogen demand, availability of construction space and technical and legal restrictions, determines the limits up to which aircraft can be supplied with hydrogen by bowsers and when it is advisable to set up underground refuelling.
Prof. Dr. Stefan Helber
Institute of Product Management
Tel.: +49 531 391-8770
stefan.helber@prod.uni-hannover.de
Institute of Product Management
Leibnitz Universität Hannover
Königsworther Platz 1
30161 Hannover