New BSR HyAirport study published: Hydrogen Transport

The BSRHyAirport partnership has published a new study focusing on a key element of hydrogen aviation: the transport and supply chain of gaseous hydrogen to airports.

The report, developed as part of the project’s working group on supply chain solutions, provides an in-depth analysis of how hydrogen can be delivered efficiently to airport sites which is a crucial prerequisite for the future use of hydrogen in aviation.

Key insights from the study

Hydrogen transport is a critical enabler for aviation

The study highlights that reliable hydrogen transport logistics are essential for enabling hydrogen-powered aviation. Airports will depend on stable and scalable supply chains to ensure continuous operation, making transport solutions a core building block of future hydrogen infrastructure.

Multiple transport options must be considered

Different hydrogen transport pathways were analysed, including:

• Pipeline transport
• Truck-based delivery
• Train-based transport

Each option comes with specific trade-offs in terms of cost, efficiency, and scalability.

Infrastructure and scale strongly influence optimal solutions

The results show that the choice of transport mode depends heavily on:

• Distance between production sites and airports
• Required hydrogen volumes
• Availability of infrastructure (e.g. pipeline networks)

In early phases, road transport is likely to dominate, while pipeline solutions become more relevant as demand increases.

Integration into regional energy systems is key

The study underlines that hydrogen supply chains for aviation should not be developed in isolation. Instead, they need to be integrated into wider regional hydrogen ecosystems like cross-border transport networks.

Challenges: costs, regulation, and coordination

Several challenges remain for implementing hydrogen transport solutions:

• High infrastructure investment requirements
• Evolving regulatory frameworks for hydrogen transport and handling
• Need for coordination between multiple stakeholders across the value chain

These factors underline the importance of early planning and cross-sector collaboration.

Supporting the transition to hydrogen aviation

This study represents another important step within the BSRHyAirport project’s mission to prepare airports in the Baltic Sea Region for hydrogen-powered aviation. By addressing supply chain and transport challenges, it helps build a comprehensive picture of hydrogen integration.

Learn more about the analysis and results for airports in the Baltic Sea region:

Report on Transport

Programme Manual Online

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