Exeter Airport winter hydrogen trial: dual-fuel GPUs cut diesel and CO2 in ground operations

A winter trial at Exeter Airport tested a dual-fuel ground power unit running on hydrogen and diesel. Over eight operational days, the unit completed 15 tests, consumed 7.41 kg of green hydrogen, and displaced an estimated 24.23 liters of diesel, avoiding about 63.9 kg of CO2. The project was led by Cranfield University, Exeter Airport, and ULEMCo, building on earlier zero-carbon ground equipment demonstrations. The report estimates that converting all seven of Exeter Airport's existing GPUs to the same dual-fuel system could save more than 11,000 liters of diesel and roughly 35 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year. The trial provides operational evidence that dual-fuel hydrogen equipment works in winter conditions and requires minimal changes for staff, supporting wider adoption at airports looking to cut ground emissions while infrastructure for fully zero-emission tech matures.