Edmonton airport converting 2 runway sweepers to hydrogen fuel

A runway snow sweeper at the Edmonton International Airport (YEG). (Credit: Edmonton Airport Authority)

Edmonton’s airport is looking at powering runway snow sweepers with hydrogen as it looks to reduce its carbon emissions.

The Edmonton International Airport is working with Diesel Tech Industries to integrate the latter’s Guardian Hydrogen Diesel System on two of the airport’s heavy-duty sweepers.

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The retrofitting effort, for which provincial government agency Alberta Innovates is providing funding, will see the two machines converted from using diesel fuel to hydrogen as a supplementary fuel, according to a media release from the airport on Thursday.

Benefits of the fuel system include lower diesel consumption, reduced emissions and advanced data tracking for fleet management and regulatory compliance, the airport said.

“This project presents a bold opportunity to push the boundaries of hydrogen adoption, particularly within the aviation industry,” Peter Agnew, the airport’s vice-president of infrastructure, facilities and airside Operations, said in the release.

Diesel Tech Industries, a transportation technology subsidiary of Diesel Tech Truck Repair, creates and specializes in innovative solutions for hard-to-decarbonize sectors.

“Airports are vital transportation hubs that operate internationally, making this project a significant demonstration of hydrogen’s potential in high-demand environments,” said Rebecca Goldsack, the chief operating officer of Diesel Tech Industries.

“The success of this initiative will showcase how hydrogen can transform off-road operations worldwide, proving that sustainability and efficiency can go hand in hand on or off-road.”

The conversion of the runway sweepers will begin this spring and take a year to complete.