Edmonton International Airport (YEG) is taking hydrogen adoption to new heights by partnering with Diesel Tech Industries (DTI) to explore the integration of the Guardian Hydrogen Diesel System on two of the airport's heavy-duty runway snow sweepers.

YEG will be Canada's first airport to explore the adoption of DTI's innovative hydrogen and diesel technology in its runway snow sweepers – vehicles considered from a hard-to-abate fleet. With funding support from Alberta Innovates, the initiative is designed to reduce YEG's carbon emissions from ground operations, advance hydrogen adoption in the transportation sector and support the global aviation industry's journey to explore more sustainable practices.

The runway snow sweepers, which currently operate on diesel fuel, will be retrofitted using the Guardian Hydrogen Diesel System, which holds the potential for existing Tier 3 diesel engines to use hydrogen as a supplementary fuel while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions without requiring extensive infrastructure modifications.  The project will require addressing the unique challenges of higher-emission Tier 3 engines, including a more demanding, high-load operational cycle and the complexity of the dual-engine configuration used for airport snow removal .

The system offers immediate benefits, including lower diesel consumption, reduced emissions and advanced data tracking for fleet management and regulatory compliance.

“This project presents a bold opportunity to push the boundaries of hydrogen adoption, particularly within the aviation industry. Reducing emissions from airport ground fleets, especially runway snow sweepers that are designed to operate in demanding winter climates, is a crucial step toward sustainability. Hydrogen/diesel dual-fuel technology offers an innovative pathway to decarbonization, and we are excited to continue to showcase the practical benefits of hydrogen at YEG,” said Peter Agnew, Vice President, Infrastructure, Facilities & Airside Operations.

“Edmonton International Airport, in partnership with DTI, is a groundbreaking achievement for international travel and the hydrogen economy on a global scale. Airports are vital transportation hubs that operate internationally, making this project a significant demonstration of hydrogen's potential in high-demand environments. 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,” said Rebecca Goldsack, COO, Diesel Tech Industries.

“This project is a compelling example of hydrogen adoption in Alberta which accelerates the transition from research to market-ready solutions. Alberta is a hub for high-impact innovation partnerships that make a difference for the province's economy, its people—and in our partnership with YEG, for the over 7 million passengers who use YEG annually,” said Mike Mahon, CEO, Alberta Innovates.

The conversion of the runway sweepers will begin in spring 2025 and take approximately one year to complete. Together, YEG and DTI aim to leverage this partnership to inspire further adoption of hydrogen technology across commercial transportation and energy sectors, underscoring Alberta's efforts in the global commitment to fostering a worldwide hydrogen economy.

This initiative supports a measurable reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from YEG's airside operations and contributes to Alberta and Canada's decarbonization goals. It will also help de-risk hydrogen technology offtake in Alberta, foster innovation in the province's growing hydrogen economy and contribute to developing a skilled clean energy workforce.