Hamburg is a city in which aviation and the maritime economy have traditionally been closely linked. With the port as an international trade hub and the airport as one of the most important air traffic interfaces in northern Europe, this dual role has characterised the economic strength of the region for decades. A recent study by the DLR Institute of Air Transport now indicates that precisely this combination could be a decisive key to a climate-friendly future for mobility.
The study, entitled "Emission Reduction Potential of Hydrogen-Powered Aviation Between Airports in Proximity of Seaports", shows that this combination could be the key to a climate-friendly future of mobility: If airports and seaports work more closely together on the topic of hydrogen, they can become pioneers for sustainable aviation in Europe.
Shared infrastructure as an advantage
The concept is as obvious as it is effective: green hydrogen, which is imported in large quantities primarily via seaports, can also be used efficiently to supply airports over short distances. To this end, the DLR has investigated European airports and seaports with a maximum distance of 20 kilometres. The shorter the transport routes, the easier it is to bundle import, storage and distribution - with less effort and greater security. Although a supply over longer distances is also technically possible, the immediate neighbourhood advantage can be decisive in order to quickly and economically enter the market ramp-up of hydrogen aircraft.
Forecasts for 2050
The results of the modelling are impressive:
- Up to 625 inner-European flight routes could be served by hydrogen aircraft by 2050.
- This would mean 135 million passengers a year travelling in a more climate-friendly way.
- Around 11.7 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions could be saved per year - this corresponds to around 10 percent of the expected emissions from European air traffic.
The study thus delivers a clear message: hydrogen has the potential to improve the carbon footprint of aviation not just selectively, but systematically.
Hamburg as a model region
The research findings are of particular interest to Hamburg. The port is considered one of the central gateways for importing green hydrogen to Germany and Europe. At the same time, Hamburg Airport is an important hub for northern Germany and beyond. The close proximity of the port and airport - combined with the strong expertise of the regional aviation and energy clusters - opens up the opportunity to develop a model region for hydrogen-powered aviation here.
The DLR study also emphasises Hamburg as a particularly suitable location internationally, alongside metropolises such as Amsterdam and Barcelona. For the Hanseatic city, this opens up a clear perspective: those who combine port and airport infrastructure can set the course for the sustainable mobility of tomorrow - and at the same time strengthen the competitiveness of the location.
Science as a driving force
The study was written by Dr Nico Flüthmann, Tim Schunkert, Dr Marc C. Gelhausen and Alexandra Leipold and published in the trade journal Aerospace. It not only provides a scientific basis, but above all concrete arguments for politics, industry and cluster initiatives, which must now create the framework conditions for climate-friendly aviation.
Hamburg Aviation expressly welcomes this impetus: it shows that the region, with its dual expertise in aviation and the maritime industry, is ideally placed to play a pioneering role in the field of hydrogen - and thus actively help shape the transition to more sustainable mobility.
You can read the study here.