Korean Air and Doosan Test Hydrogen Fuel Cell for Aircraft Ground Operations
Hydrogen Meets Aviation at Incheon
Korean Air and Doosan Fuel Cell have completed successful trials of a hydrogen fuel cell ground power unit (GPU) at Incheon International Airport. The 100-kilowatt system provides electrical power to parked aircraft, replacing diesel generators that typically supply energy for lighting, air conditioning, and avionics while planes are at the gate.
Korean Air SVP of engineering Kang Sung-kwan said the trial demonstrated "a practical, near-term pathway to decarbonize airport operations." The hydrogen GPU reduced CO2 emissions by 90% compared to diesel generators and eliminated local air pollutant emissions entirely.
Technical Details
The fuel cell uses Doosan's proton exchange membrane (PEM) technology, which converts hydrogen and oxygen into electricity with water as the only byproduct. The unit delivers 100 kW of continuous power — sufficient for a wide-body aircraft like the Boeing 777 during ground operations. Refueling takes approximately 10 minutes and provides 8 hours of operation.
Doosan Fuel Cell CEO Jae-Chul Chung said the aerospace application "validates our fuel cell technology for demanding environments where reliability is non-negotiable." Doosan supplies fuel cells for building power, data center backup, and ship propulsion, and sees aviation as a high-growth vertical.
Airport Decarbonization
Ground support equipment — including GPUs, baggage tugs, belt loaders, and pushback tractors — accounts for approximately 15% of airport-level carbon emissions. Incheon Airport Corporation has committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 and views hydrogen-powered ground equipment as a key component of that strategy.
Korean Air plans to deploy 20 hydrogen GPUs at Incheon by 2027, with expansion to other Korean airports and potential licensing to partner airlines. The airline is also participating in Airbus's hydrogen aircraft propulsion research program.
Korean Hydrogen Ecosystem
The trial fits within South Korea's broader hydrogen economy strategy. The government has invested 3.8 trillion won in hydrogen infrastructure, including production facilities, fueling stations, and fuel cell manufacturing. Hyundai Motor's NEXO fuel cell SUV is the world's best-selling hydrogen vehicle, and Doosan is the world's second-largest fuel cell manufacturer by capacity.
SK E&S and POSCO are developing blue and green hydrogen production at scale. Korea aims to produce 3.9 million tonnes of clean hydrogen annually by 2030. The aviation sector represents a new demand source that could help justify the massive infrastructure investment required to build a hydrogen economy.