Air Liquide, Airbus, Incheon International Airport Corporation, and Korean Air signed a MOU to explore the use of hydrogen energy at Incheon International Airport. In the future, the development of domestic airport infrastructure to support the commercialization of hydrogen aircraft at the global level will also be studied through this partnership. A key focus of this partnership is that it reflects the common ambition of our partners to lead the innovative aviation sector while supporting the Korean government's goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

Through this MOU, the four partners will first prepare a development roadmap for the use of hydrogen energy at Incheon International Airport and its vicinity, and establish a scenario to support the establishment of a hydrogen ecosystem linked with other domestic airports. In the next stage, the focus is on conducting research to develop the liquid hydrogen infrastructure required for Incheon International Airport in order to prepare for the introduction of the first hydrogen aircraft.

 

 

Each partner will leverage their complementary expertise to define the potential opportunities hydrogen offers and support the decarbonization of the aviation industry. Air Liquide will contribute to the entire hydrogen value chain (production, liquefaction, storage and distribution), in particular, based on extensive and professional technology in the overall supply of liquid hydrogen. Airbus will provide information on the unique characteristics and energy consumption of hydrogen aircraft for ground operation, and Korean Air will provide aviation operation-related expertise along with ground operation of aircraft. Lastly, Incheon International Airport Corporation will present an airport development plan that can encompass air traffic characteristics and inter-terminal logistics based on Incheon International Airport, one of the largest and busiest airports in the world.

In addition, Air Liquide, as a global leader in hydrogen energy solutions, plans to accelerate the distribution of various solutions related to hydrogen energy in Korea based on its solid position in the hydrogen charging infrastructure sector. Air Liquide has already invested in two high-spec commercial hydrogen charging stations that started commercial operation in August 2021 near Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport and is currently supplying gaseous hydrogen.

"There is strong momentum around hydrogen, especially initiatives to accelerate the development of more sustainable aviation," said Francois Abrial, Air Liquide Group Asia Pacific Regional Director and Member of the Group's Management Committee. "Korea is one of the most active countries in the development of hydrogen energy business in the world, and we are delighted to be participating with our partners in the development of Korea's hydrogen economy. Air Liquide intends to contribute to building a more sustainable future with the aspiration to introduce hydrogen through its current mobility business and build a liquid hydrogen infrastructure for airports in the future."