Hydrogen refuelling for aviation: The ALRIGH2T approach

Hydrogen is considered a key enabler for achieving climate-neutral aviation. However, its deployment requires new refuelling systems, safety protocols and infrastructures adapted to the specific conditions of airport operations. 

The ALRIGH2T project (Airport-Level DemonstRatIon of Ground Refuelling of Liquid Hydrogen for AviaTion), funded by the EU’s Horizon Europe programme, is taking a bold step towards the decarbonisation of air transport. By developing the first integrated liquid hydrogen (LH₂) refuelling system for aviation, this European initiative aims to demonstrate that safe, efficient and large-scale hydrogen refuelling is feasible within real airport operations. 

Achieving TRL6, ALRIGH2T will showcase the practicality of handling liquid hydrogen at volumes relevant to the civil aviation industry, laying the foundation for Europe’s transition to hydrogen-ready airports. 

Demonstrations will take place at Milan Malpensa and Paris-Orly airports, validating hydrogen refuelling under real-world operational conditions.

Beyond liquid hydrogen, the project also investigates the integration of gaseous hydrogen (GH₂) into ground operations, ensuring a comprehensive and systemic approach to hydrogen deployment across the entire airport ecosystem.

ALRIGH2T methodology

ALRIGH2T adopts a systemic and multi-technology approach built around three technical pillars:

1. Liquid hydrogen supply and transfer systems: Development of a high flow rate centrifugal liquid hydrogen pump targeting 2,000kg/h, establishing a new benchmark for aviation-scale refuelling. The system also aims to reduce liquid losses by at least 6% during loading operations.
2. Direct refuelling and control systems: Design and validation of an instrumented liquid H₂ tank with a capacity of 40kg, equipped with cryogenic sensors, integrated data acquisition and a predictive digital twin for process simulation and enhanced real-time monitoring.
3. Gaseous hydrogen integration for ground operations: Introduction of hydrogen fuel cell ground vehicles for towing and maintenance operations to complement liquid H aircraft demonstrations.

The approach combines engineering, digitalisation, and safety analysis. Detailed simulations analyses guided the safe configuration of the liquid hydrogen pump, while multiphase thermo-fluid dynamic and structural models are being developed and will provide critical information for future scale up of such systems.

ALRIGH2T is achieving substantial progress in developing the technologies and systems required for airport-level hydrogen refuelling. It successfully moved from conceptual design to integrated system definition, establishing the technical, safety and procedural foundation for full-scale demonstrations planned for 2026–2027. 

Key advancements can be grouped as follows:

• Technological and cryogenic system development: System-level design of the liquid hydrogen refuelling prototype advanced to detailed engineering, with mechanical and safety adaptations defined to achieve aviation-relevant flow rates. An instrumented liquid hydrogen tank was designed and tested with integrated sensors and a refined thermal layout. 
• Digital modelling and simulation: Creation of a reduced order model capable of simulating the receiving end of the refuelling process (liquid hydrogen into the tank) and the tank’s performance. This has made it possible to estimate airport relevant effects of different tank filling strategies and to assess the relevance of key refuelling parameters.
• Demonstration planning and safety framework: Procedures, safety zones and authorisation steps are currently being prepared for the Milan demonstration under the sandbox framework. Risk analysis and regulatory mapping were initiated to ensure compliance with aerodrome hazard criteria. 

Next steps

The next steps are detailed in the 2026-2027  roadmap below.

By 2027, the project will deliver validated liquid hydrogen refuelling technologies, digital twins and training tools that will enable future full-scale technology maturation, turning Europe’s major airports into hydrogen ready hubs and improving the understanding of liquid hydrogen refuelling for aviation to support its future scale-up. 

Through its focus on both liquid and gaseous hydrogen, ALRIGH2T supports a flexible and scalable transition that can extend beyond aviation, impacting airport logistics, hydrogen mobility and regional energy ecosystems.

Learn more about how ALRIGH2T is advancing hydrogen technologies and paving the way for sustainable aviation on the project website.

This article was prepared in collaboration with ENEA (Coordinator) and project partners AIT, LINDE, SAG, IAI, SINTEF, SEA, ATENA, TLD, and DIGISKY.

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