Brussels: Skytanking with new tankers

After a large-scale test at Brussels Airport with two electric hydrant dispensers, Skytanking has ordered two custom-made electric dispensers. These vehicles are used to deliver aircraft fuel from the underfloor hydrant system to the aircraft.

More than 2200 refuelings were carried out during the test phase in the past few months and provided information about the optimal battery performance, the chassis and the charging infrastructure. The special vehicles are scheduled to go into operation at the beginning of 2024.

The Stargate project, an EU Green Deal project led by Brussels Airport to implement innovative solutions to green the airport industry, is exploring new ways to further decarbonize ground handling. In 2022, Stargate partner Skytanking started an intensive test phase with two fully electric hydrant filling stations at Brussels Airport. These bespoke diesel-to-electric converted Turkish Fuel Services vehicles were of Belgian construction and were tested to provide the necessary insights into energy consumption as a function of aircraft type, average distance per airport movement and weather conditions. The test also served to determine the ideal battery size for each vehicle and the optimal charging infrastructure.

During the test period from mid-October 2022 to mid-May 2023, more than 2200 refuelings were carried out with the electric hydrant dispensers in order to gain the necessary knowledge and to test the vehicles in an operational environment. Following this successful test, Skytanking will now order their own custom built 100% electric hydrant dispensers, built on an original electric chassis to allow for easy reproducibility.