Two electric ‘hydrant fuel dispensers’, which pump fuel from the underground piping system into the aircraft, will come into operation at Brussels Airport from next year.

The new custom-made devices are part of the greening of the airport sector, says the operator.

Ordered by Skytanking

The vehicles were ordered by the company Skytanking, which provides refueling services at Brussels Airport in Zaventem but also at more than 90 other airports. A test with two electric fuel dispensers, which performed more than 2 200 refilling operations, already took place over the past months.

“This provided insight into optimal battery performance, the required chassis, and charging infrastructure”, Brussels Airport said. These customized vehicles are expected to go into service in early 2024.

Tailor-made

Turkish Fuel Services’ fuel dispensers were originally equipped with a diesel engine. They were then converted to an electric variant in Belgium, and so, after a test period, two tailor-made vehicles were ordered from the manufacturer, allowing to reduce emissions from ground operations.

The type of battery chosen should guarantee a lifetime of at least 10 years. Brussels Airport will also install the necessary charging stations.

Stargate

The electrification is part of the Stargate project, a program within the European Green Deal, in which Brussels Airport is working with a consortium of 21 partners to develop various initiatives for an accelerated transition to greener aviation by 2026.

The Stargate project receives 24,8 million euros in subsidies within the European Green Deal. The partners of the consortium will add another 10 million euros.