Airbus Establishes New Spanish Subsidiary to Explore Hydrogen Technologies

Airbus continues to explore hydrogen technologies in the aviation industry and will accelerate its research with a new Spanish-based innovation subsidiary dubbed Zero Emission Development Centre (ZEDC) revealed today (Dec 10).

Being created as part of Airbus’ UpNext entity, the new group complements the company’s existing low-carbon footprint in Spain and reaffirms a commitment to establishing hydrogen as a key technology for future aircraft.

The new entity will focus on the study and future demonstration of hydrogen-powered non-propulsive energies as well as future tanking operations applying advancements in vision-based technology.

This new presence will leverage the expertise of Airbus Commercial Aircraft, Airbus Helicopters and Airbus Defence and Space in Spain. Airbus UpNext gives future technologies a development fast-track by building demonstrators at speed and scale.

This entails the sourcing of new talent and suppliers in order to evaluate, mature and validate potential innovative products and services that encompass radical technological breakthroughs.

This will support the growing demand for hydrogen aircraft and increase the efficiency of the technology being implemented into aircraft.

Sabine Klauke, Chief Technical Officer at Airbus, said, “Establishing Airbus UpNext and the ZEDC in Spain strengthens our Research & Technology footprint in the country and ensures the involvement, from the start, of some of the best experts to support our zero-emission ambition.”