Zero-emissions technology firm Fabrum announced Tuesday it has opened a new liquid hydrogen test facility at Christchurch Airport in New Zealand to test and refine its green hydrogen technologies.

Located at the airport’s 400-hectare Kowhai Park energy precinct, the facility will support the development of liquefiers, gas management systems, and boil-off gas management technologies, Kallanish notes. 

Customers will be able to use the new facility this year, the New Zealand-based company says, while welcoming “like-minded companies” to test their technologies at the site.

“Fabrum is already working with aviation companies globally to develop liquid hydrogen storage systems, and our customers will be among the first to test the performance and reliability of hydrogen technologies and infrastructure,” adds Fabrum’s chief executive Ojas Mahapatra. 

Last year, Fabrum commissioned a liquid hydrogen plant at Australian miner Fortescue’s Christmas Creek mine site in Western Australia. The plant can produce around 350 kilograms/day of liquid hydrogen.

Fabrum executive chair Christopher Boyle adds: “Having liquid hydrogen as an aviation fuel available on-site is vital for the aviation sector, rapidly advancing towards hydrogen-fuelled operations to unlock a zero-emissions future.”

Yet, in a report released last week, Europe's aviation sector downgraded the role of hydrogen-powered aircraft in reducing aviation emissions by 2050 to 6% from the 20% estimated before.

Fabrum and Christchurch Airport are also part of a hydrogen consortium with Fortescue Future Industries (FFI), Air New Zealand, Hiringa Energy and Airbus. Yet, giant Airbus confirmed last week it was delaying plans to deliver a hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft by 2035.