The Regulatory Pressure

The shift away from diesel-powered ground power is not aspirational — it is being mandated. The European Union's Fit for 55 package includes provisions for airport ground operations emissions. Individual airports in Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific are implementing their own timelines, with many targeting elimination of diesel GSE by 2030.

For GPU procurement teams, this means the equipment purchased today must either be zero-emission or have a clear path to disposal before the relevant deadline. Buying a new diesel GPU in 2026 carries regulatory risk that did not exist five years ago.

The three technology categories competing to replace diesel in ground power are solid-state electric, battery-autonomous, and hydrogen fuel cell systems. Each has distinct advantages, limitations, and maturity levels.

Solid-State Electric GPUs

Solid-state electric GPUs convert power from the building's mains supply into the voltage and frequency required by the aircraft. They contain no moving parts beyond cooling fans, produce no direct emissions, and generate minimal noise. This is the most mature of the three zero-emission technologies and the one with the largest installed base.

ITW GSE, Red Box Aviation, and Powervamp all manufacture solid-state electric GPUs covering both 28V DC and 400Hz AC requirements. The technology is proven, reliable, and cost-effective where mains power is available.

Key consideration

Solid-state electric is the default answer wherever mains power is available. The only scenario where it falls short is remote apron positions and field operations where no electrical infrastructure exists. For those applications, the next two categories become relevant.

Battery-Autonomous GPUs (eGPU)

Battery-autonomous GPUs — often branded "eGPUs" — contain a large onboard battery bank that provides both starting power and continuous supply without requiring a mains connection during use. They recharge from mains when parked, then deploy to remote positions on the apron where fixed electrical infrastructure does not reach.

This category represents the most active area of GPU innovation in 2026. ITW GSE's 7400 eGPU and Start Pac's GREEN GPU are the leading products, each taking a different approach to the battery-autonomous concept.

The Start Pac GREEN is notable as the first 100% emission-free autonomous GPU capable of starting multiple engines and powering aircraft systems for hours — including high-draw air conditioning — from battery power alone. When plugged into mains, it functions as a conventional continuous power supply.

Key consideration

Battery-autonomous GPUs bridge the gap between fixed electric installations and the mobile flexibility of diesel. They are ideal for airports where fixed GPU infrastructure exists at some gates but not others, or for operators who need zero-emission compliance at positions where installing mains power is impractical.

Hydrogen Fuel Cell GPUs (HGPU)

Hydrogen-powered GPUs replace the diesel engine in a conventional mobile GPU with a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain. The fuel cell generates electricity from hydrogen and oxygen, with water as the only byproduct. This provides the range and refueling speed of diesel with the zero-emission profile of electric.

The technology is still in the pre-commercial phase for aviation ground power. The most prominent project is the TULIPS consortium, led by Royal Schiphol Group and funded by the European Commission's Horizon 2020 program with €25 million. The consortium includes 29 airports, airlines, and industrial partners, with zepp.solutions developing the hydrogen GPU hardware.

Key consideration

Hydrogen GPUs are a 2028–2030 technology for most airports. They will become relevant when hydrogen refueling infrastructure reaches critical mass at airports — something being driven in parallel by hydrogen-powered airside vehicles and, eventually, hydrogen-powered aircraft. Early adopters with existing hydrogen infrastructure (often shared with bus or vehicle fleets) may see viable deployments sooner.

Which Technology to Choose in 2026