Edmonton Airport retrofits runway sweepers with hydrogen-diesel tech
Canada’s fifth-busiest airport is adding hydrogen to its winter ground fleet, fitting dual-fuel systems to two diesel-powered runway sweepers.
Edmonton International Airport (YEG) is partnering with local firm Diesel Tech Industries (DTI) to integrate its Guardian Hydrogen Diesel System into a pair of high-emission Tier 3 snow sweepers.
Backed by Alberta Innovates, the retrofit project will allow the heavy-duty vehicles to run on a blend of diesel and hydrogen, without requiring major infrastructure upgrades.
The two sweepers – used for runway clearing in harsh winter conditions – will become the first at a Canadian airport to operate using hydrogen-diesel dual-fuel tech.
Cutting emissions, putting the tech to the test
The goal is to cut emissions from a hard-to-abate fleet segment while testing hydrogen’s viability in extreme, high-load applications.
DTI’s Guardian system enables diesel engines to use hydrogen as a supplementary fuel, which, unlike full conversions, it’s designed to work with existing powertrains – especially in sectors where full electrification is either impractical or too expensive.
The setup also supports detailed emissions tracking and data logging for compliance.
“This project presents a bold opportunity to push the boundaries of hydrogen adoption, particularly within the aviation industry,” said Peter Agnew, Vice President at YEG.
Retrofit today, operational in a year
Retrofitting will begin in spring 2025 and take around a year. The project will also test the Guardian system’s performance in dual-engine configurations – common in snow clearing vehicles but notoriously complex for clean-fuel retrofits.
DTI’s COO Rebecca Goldsack described the partnership as a “groundbreaking achievement” for hydrogen in international transport, adding that airports are ideal proving grounds for high-demand, off-road hydrogen use.
Alberta Innovates, which is co-funding the trial, framed it as a real-world demonstration of market-ready hydrogen solutions emerging from local R&D pipelines.
YEG is already positioning itself as a hub for hydrogen activity, thanks in part to its Airport City Sustainability Campus, which includes multiple pilot projects tied to decarbonisation and tech innovation.
The dual-fuel sweepers are the latest step in reducing operational emissions on-site and supporting Alberta’s ambitions to lead in the global hydrogen economy.
