Liege Airport and CMI have announced that they are beginning a collaboration with a view to equipping the airport with installations for production, distribution, and the use of green hydrogen. Hydrogen, the companies point out, is a solution of the future enabling 100% clean mobility. On the airport site, it can be utilised in different ways, particularly through hydrogen distribution stations which can be used to power both the airport’s own vehicle fleet and also vehicles from the exterior. This is the ‘HaYrport’ project.

Hydrogen can be produced by a totally clean process. Used in a vehicle to supply a fuel cell, it replaces petrol or diesel. The fuel cell powers the vehicle’s electric engine, emitting only pure water, and thus producing zero noxious emissions.

The hydrogen produced within the collaboration between Liege Airport and CMI has to be produced by a water electrolys process, with the aid of green electricity. The ‘HaYrport’ project includes making use of the hydrogen produced to power the fleet of vehicles of the airport and of local interested institutions and companies, which use a captive fleet or a system of shuttles.

Luc Partoune, CEO of Liege Airport: “We are ambitious, both in terms of the environmental aspect and the mobility aspect. This project in partnership with CMI is promising, as it responds, in an innovative and ecological manner, to the needs of Liege Airport and the cargo community”.

João Félix da Silva, President of CMI Industry: “It is with a great deal of pride that we are starting this project. It is the first in Wallonia aiming to create entirely clean mobility around Liege Airport. CMI knows hydrogen within the framework of its conception of industrial processes. We are convinced that it constitutes a solution of the future for mobility.

It is worth pointing out that CMI is unique in that it still occupies the headquarters of its founder. John Cockerill, an English engineer who came to the Liège region (and hence the ‘C’ of CMI) bought a chateau on the banks of the Meuse in Seraing, near Liège, in 1817 – 200 years ago - from William of Orange, King of the Netherlands. This chateau is still the HQ of CMI (which has a presence and a workforce on all 5 continents, today). The chateau is also only 10 minutes drive from Liege Airport.