‘Green’ airport tech urgently needed, says report

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A report from Cranfield University said that multi-million-pound investment is ‘urgently needed’ in technology to mitigate CO2 emissions at airports.

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The study focused primarily on emissions from the operational aspects of airports. Researchers looked at how carbon capture, utilisation and sequestration (CCUS) technologies could be deployed across the sector to help airports become ‘green energy power stations’ for fuelling aircraft.

Technologies such as direct air capture (DAC) will be key if the UK is to make ‘green’ airports a reality in the future, the report revealed. DAC works by capturing the CO2 in the air and then either sequestrating it or using it to manufacture carbon neutral fuel.

The report was compiled for air transport technology company SITA. It examined 2019 emissions and other information from London Luton Airport, Aberdeen Airport, Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, India and San Francisco International Airport.

Researchers said that a combination of integrating renewable green hydrogen energy (generated by renewable energy or low-carbon power) with DAC and sustainable aviation fuel would help in the UK’s net zero ambitions. The report added that as part of the government’s Net Zero 2050 roadmap, CCUS should be included alongside other air transport energy policies.

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