Airbus, in collaboration with academic partners, airport operators, and leading hydrogen-industry companies, has embarked on an ambitious initiative—the GOLIAT project.

The GOLIAT project aims to demonstrate the use of small-scale liquid hydrogen (LH2) for aircraft ground operations at three European airports. Supported by €10.8 million from the EU's Horizon Europe Framework Programme over four years, the project focuses on developing and showcasing technologies for handling and refueling LH2 specifically for airport operations.

Led by Airbus, the GOLIAT consortium includes 10 partners from eight countries, such as Chart Industries, TU Delft, and Vinci Airports. This diverse group highlights the collaborative effort to innovate in hydrogen aviation. By combining the knowledge of academia, industry, and airport operators, the project seeks to speed up the adoption of LH2 for transportation and energy storage in aviation.

LH2 is a clean and efficient fuel that could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from airport operations and lessen dependence on fossil fuels. However, its widespread use depends on solving various operational, regulatory, economic, and safety challenges. The GOLIAT project is a major step toward overcoming these obstacles and promoting hydrogen technologies in aviation.