Birmingham Airport (BHX) has confirmed it will participate in the HyPRIME project, a UK initiative led by ZeroAvia and part-funded by the Department for Transport to trial liquid hydrogen (LH₂) refuelling and handling at commercial airports.
What BHX will do in the trials
Working alongside partners ULEMCO, GeoPura and Bristol Airport, BHX will help design, build and operate a mobile refuelling rig intended to support hydrogen-electric aircraft within standard turnaround times. The system is also expected to supply hydrogen for ground support equipment and on-site power generation during live airport operations.
The project will run tests in operational airport environments to examine the practical and safety procedures needed for LH₂, assess economic implications and identify how hydrogen systems would affect everyday airport activity. The findings are intended to inform future infrastructure decisions for hydrogen at UK airports.
Background and local impact
BHX’s involvement builds on an existing partnership with ZeroAvia and aligns with the airport’s target to reach net zero for its direct operations by 2033. The airport recently reported an 11% reduction in location-based greenhouse gas emissions for the 2025/26 reporting year.
“Hydrogen electric aircraft are progressing quickly, and airports need to understand how this fuel can be safely and efficiently integrated into daily operations. HyPRIME gives us the opportunity to test procedures and build the knowledge required to support future zero emission flights from Birmingham.”
The tests at BHX are intended to help the aviation sector learn how to handle, store and refuel LH₂ safely and efficiently. For the local economy, successful demonstrations could accelerate demand for new skills and supply-chain activity in the West Midlands related to hydrogen logistics, maintenance and refuelling technology.
Key elements under evaluation
- Operational feasibility of a mobile liquid-hydrogen refuelling rig during normal turnaround times
- Safety procedures and handling protocols for LH₂ in live airport settings
- Economic considerations for deploying hydrogen infrastructure at regional airports
Project partners will collect evidence on practical procedures and operational impacts, which will feed into wider UK aviation planning. The HyPRIME trial is described as a multi-million-pound project; BHX will use the exercise to refine internal processes ahead of potential hydrogen-electric services.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Lead organisation | ZeroAvia |
| BHX commitments | Design, build and test mobile LH₂ refuelling rig; supply hydrogen for ground equipment and power |
| Local emissions progress | 11% reduction in location-based greenhouse gases (2025/26) |
| Net-zero target (direct operations) | 2033 |
Birmingham Airport says the trial will help maintain the momentum of recent sustainability work and provide critical evidence on how to bring hydrogen into everyday airport operations. Results from HyPRIME will be relevant to other regional airports considering hydrogen as part of future decarbonisation strategies.
For further details and updates, BHX directs interested parties to its Media Centre.
