Airports across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East continue to raise the sustainability bar and reduce their carbon footprint, writes Joe Bates.
BENGALURU AND DELHI GATEWAYS LEAD THE WAY
Two of India’s busiest airports, Bengaluru-Kempegowda and Delhi-Indira Gandhi, have joined an elite group of 16 leading airports worldwide by achieving the highest Level 5 status in ACI’s Airport Carbon Accreditation programme. This accomplishment underscores the growing momentum of the programme in the region and highlights the crucial role that airports play in driving decarbonisation efforts in the aviation sector.
Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) has adopted a science-based approach to reducing carbon emissions across its operations. The airport is committed to achieving 100% renewable electricity consumption, implementing afforestation initiatives, and promoting the adoption of electric vehicles.
With a robust renewable electricity infrastructure in place, including onsite solar power generation through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) model and an offsite PPA arrangement for solar and wind power, the airport has made substantial progress in reducing its carbon footprint. Indeed, in 2023, Kempegowda achieved a remarkable 95.6% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions. Looking ahead, the airport is committed to achieving net zero emissions for Scope 3 by 2050, demonstrating its long-term dedication to sustainability.
Hari Marar, managing director and CEO of Kempegowda operator, Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), enthused: “We are delighted to be one of the first airports in Asia to attain ACI’s Level 5 accreditation and to lead the way with the highest emission elimination by an Indian airport. Achieving Net Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions seven years ahead of our target is a testament to BLR Airport’s unwavering commitment to sustainability. This accomplishment not only sets a new benchmark for us but also reinforces our dedication to creating a greener future for all.”
Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) has also implemented a series of strategic initiatives to reach net zero for the emissions under its direct control. Key measures include transitioning to renewable energy, promoting the use of electric vehicles within airport operations, and upgrading infrastructure to support environmentally friendly practices.
The airport has installed a 7.84 MW solar power plant on airside land that has significantly reduced its reliance on conventional energy sources. Additionally, the airport has expanded its fleet of electric vehicles and taxibots, further decreasing emissions and fuel consumption in line with its ambitious target to achieve net zero Scope 3 emissions by 2050. Christchurch is the only other gateway in the ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East region to achieve Level 5 in the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme.
GOOD YEAR FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN HONG KONG
Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) provides a comprehensive round-up of its sustainability achievements over the last year in its Sustainability Report 2023/24. The report – covering Airport Authority Hong Kong’s fiscal year ending March 31, 2024 – reveals that its newly introduced strategic framework, Ascend, focused on 24 strategic goals across the sustainability pillars of Environmental Excellence, Operational Excellence, Thriving Economies and Societies, and Thriving People.
Highlights of the report are said to include AAHK being recognised as a ‘2024 Top-Rated ESG Performer’ by Sustainalytics, a well-established rating company; HKG becoming the first airport in the world to deploy the award-winning Digital Apron together with Tower Management System (DATMS) for airport operations; and AAHK launching a Renewable Diesel (RD) pilot programme, making HKIA the first Asian airport to use RD in ground services equipment.
Other successes worthy of note, says AAHK, include two of HKG’s aviation fuel facilities obtaining the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification: Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (ISCC CORSIA) certification for Sustainable Aviation Fuels handling.
In his introduction to the report, AAHK chairman and former CEO, Fred Lam, says: “Sustainability at AAHK is not just about what we do in good times – it’s also about what we do in difficult times. With this in mind, and despite the challenges of the pandemic period, we continued investing in projects across numerous aspects of sustainability. As we look ahead, climate change remains a significant challenge for our industry. We are pioneering efforts in this area, including by supporting the adoption of lower-carbon fuels.”
ANOTHER MILESTONE FOR QUEENSTOWN AIRPORT
Queenstown Airport has achieved Level 4+ ‘Transition’ status in ACI’s Airport Carbon Accreditation programme. The New Zealand gateway says that the achievement acknowledges its commitment to sustainability and progress towards decarbonisation. Only 46 of the more than 40,000 airports worldwide have been accredited at Level 4+ or 5.
The airport’s chief executive, Glen Sowry, enthused: “Aviation is a challenging industry to decarbonise. We’ve set ambitious sustainability targets and invested heavily to reduce our carbon footprint as quickly as possible. It’s pleasing to see that recognised, although there is a lot more work to be done.”
Since its initial carbon audit in 2019, Queenstown Airport has reduced its operational absolute emissions by 71% and is targeting an 85% reduction in absolute emissions by 2028. That progress is based on a commitment to electrification, transition to a certified renewable electricity supply, upgrading of assets and infrastructure to increase efficiency, and a decision to stop using a diesel generator for supplementary power during periods of peak demand.
SIHANOUK SUCCESS STORY
Sihanouk International Airport in Cambodia has been recognised for its continued efforts to reduce its carbon footprint, recently upgrading to Level 3 Optimisation status in the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme. The achievement underscores the airport’s dedication to expanding its carbon management efforts by including Scope 3 emissions, which involves working closely with third-party operators to reduce their environmental impact.
To achieve the Level 3 milestone, the airport has invested heavily and deployed multi-pronged initiatives, which include commissioning more efficient chiller systems for its central air conditioning. In addition, it has replaced all lighting sources with more energy-efficient LED technology, installed automatic systems to reduce and optimise energy consumption in the main buildings, and conducted awareness campaigns across the airport campus to promote more sustainable behaviour and carbon reduction initiatives.
Cyril Girot, CEO of Cambodia Airports, said: “We are continuing our commitment onward with respect to fighting climate change, intensifying our efforts in every possible way to substantiate our vision for Positive Mobility. Having our partners join concrete actions that we have implemented bodes well for our next accomplishments. I want to express my appreciation to them and to our personnel for their crucial contribution.”
CLEANER GROUND HANDLING VEHICLES AT SINGAPORE CHANGI
Dnata and ExxonMobil have started a six-month trial to fuel 12 of dnata’s airside vehicles and generator sets with renewable diesel at Singapore Changi Airport. The trial uses Esso Renewable Diesel R20 (R20), which is a high-quality fuel with an estimated 15.4% lower lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to conventional diesel.
It is the first ground handler at Changi Airport to use renewable diesel, with partial funding provided by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) as part of its Aviation Sustainability Programme. If successful, the trial could be rolled out to 200 airside vehicles and generator sets across dnata’s ground handling and cargo operations. This would mark a further step towards the dnata Group’s goal of reducing its carbon footprint by 50% by 2030 as part of its eight-year strategy.