How Green is My Airport?

Management of Melbourne International Airport is looking at ways to lessen the airport’s carbon emissions, possibly by generating its own electricity. What have other leading airports around the world been doing to go green and become carbon neutral?

Andrew Heasley in The Age (3 December 2009):

Management at Tullamarine is looking at ways to lessen the airport’s carbon emissions. Melbourne Airport could generate its own electricity in a quest to cut carbon emissions.

The airport’s management is investigating the feasibility of installing wind generators, a gas fired plant or even a power plant fired by woodchip on its Tullamarine site.

“We’re always looking at smart ways to cut our energy costs,” said the airport’s chief executive Chris Woodruff.

The airport’s executive general manager Simon Gandy said it might be preferable to generate electricity on site rather than buy “green” power from a retailer.

“If we can do our own generation…that might be a better way forward than procuring green energy,” he said.

Big wind turbines would not be suitable for an operating airfield.

“Some of the areas in the UK are using (power) co-generation by waste woodchip. We’re looking at all of those, whether we go to wood chip, I don’t know,” Mr Gandy said.

Solar electricity generated by panels probably couldn’t keep up with demand as they were relatively inefficient, he said.

Environmental design attributes have been included in a $330 million redevelopment of the international terminal, unveiled yesterday.

The first phase of that was unveiled with the opening of a new $108 million departures wing that features natural lighting through 10-metre high glazing, low-carbon-emitting carpet and seat fabrics, carbon dioxide sensors to monitor the new concourse’s air quality, automated sun blinds, floor slab heating and cooling, rainwater harvesting and grey water recycling.

The new wing features three more aircraft bays, two of which accommodate the double-decker Airbus A380, with aerobridges to upper and lower decks.

The next stages will include a remodelled international passenger area with better security screening facilities and passport control, and new shops, including more duty free.

Source: www.theage.com.au

In November 2007, Airports Council International called on its airports to develop plans to reduce emissions, with the ultimate goal being carbon neutral airports.

An airport operator can achieve carbon neutral status by reducing carbon emissions from operations and buildings to a strict minimum.

The remaining emissions (that cannot be further reduced) are mitigated through economic and market-based measures until long-term technological solutions are developed.

Source: www.airports.org

The United Kingdom’s Manchester Airports Group (MAG) announced in 2006 that the operations of the four airports in the Group – Manchester, East Midlands, Bournemouth and Humberside  - would be carbon neutral for 2015.  

As the Group takes on the concept of sustainable development forward, Manchester Airport Developments (MADL), the property development arm of the business, is now asking designers at the briefing stage for projects to look at ways of generating their own power sources through ground source heat pumps, biomass, solar energy or wind turbines.

Modern design is capable of removing carbon emissions at source. The construction of a new hangar to house Concorde at the Aviation Viewing Park at Manchester Airport, the new Terminal facility at Bournemouth Airport and on a low carbon pier at East Midlands Airport utilise natural light and sources heat from ground source heat pumps.

MAG also has a long standing commitment to recycling, ensuring that despite plans to grow the business, the amount of waste does not increase and the strict targets are adhered to.

Source: www.enviro.aero

In New Zealand, the Christchurch International Airport vehicle fleet was audited and a new vehicle replacement policy implemented to include fuel efficiency considerations for new vehicle purchases.

Recycling programmes, including the re-use of up to 10% of runway asphalt during replacement works.

All electricity is purchased from Meridian Energy – a fully carbon-neutral electricity supplier using renewable sources.

A comprehensive programme to identify and resolve energy inefficiencies in the terminal building.

Christchurch International Airport invested in three local offsetting schemes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions – a combination of windfarm, forest regeneration and landfill gas recovery credits, all earned from local programmes.

New Zealand’s Christchurch International Airport has received carboNZero certification from Landcare Research following a detailed measurement and analysis process. The certification process has seen the airport company measuring, managing, reducing and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions arising from its operational business activities.

It is the first airport in the Southern Hemisphere to be certified carbon neutral.

Source: www.christchurchairport.co.nz

As of 1 August 2009, Canada’s Gander International Airport became North America’s first Carbon Neutral airport.

The Gander International Airport Authority (GIAA) and its tenant companies are implementing a comprehensive carbon emissions reduction program that involves a number of infrastructure and employee initiatives.

The remaining emissions have been reduced by the purchase of carbon offsets through The CarbonNeutral Company®, the world’s leading carbon offset and climate consulting business. The GIAA has invested in green energy projects in Europe and Asia.

In early 2008, the Gander International Airport Authority engaged InterVISTAS Consulting to quantify its annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The airport authority has set a goal of reducing its carbon emissions by 33% by 2020.

The airport has engaged an energy engineer to recommend the adoption of renewable next generation energy systems that will reduce emissions and cost.

The airport has formed a Green Committee, comprised of airport workers, partners and tenants, to implement a green culture and practices at the airport, including reducing paper consumption, a procurement policy that gives preference to green vendors, reducing electricity use, more comprehensive recycling, anti-idling policies, energy retrofits. A carbon neutral culture will become an intrinsic part of Gander International Airport’s workplace culture, operations and planning.

Gander International Airport is among airports around the world that are signatories to the 2008 Aviation and Environment Summit Declaration, which commits to carbon-neutral growth and a carbon-free future.

Aviation is responsible for an estimated 2% of global carbon dioxide emissions. The best estimate of aviation’s climate change impact is about 3.5% of the total contribution by human activities.

Concern for the environment, and progressive practices to protect the planet, will become an intrinsic part of our workplace culture, operations and planning. We commit to ongoing investment and auditing of our Greenhouse Gas Emissions with the aim of maintaining carbon neutrality.

Source: www.ganderairport.com