Alicante Airport Advances in Carbon Reduction: A Model of Sustainable Practices
Friday, August 9th, 2024
Global Efforts Towards Carbon Neutrality
Airports and airlines around the world are increasingly prioritising the reduction of their environmental impact, with many aiming for carbon neutral status. This involves significant efforts to reduce emissions from aviation and adopt sustainable practices. Some airports have become leading examples in this global movement towards sustainability.
The ACI’s Carbon Accreditation Programme
The Airports Council International (ACI) has established a global programme to acknowledge and reward airports for their initiatives in managing and reducing carbon emissions. This programme provides a structured framework for airports to minimise their carbon footprint, offering recognition through various levels of accreditation. Each accreditation level reflects the growing complexity and scope of an airport’s carbon management efforts, encouraging continuous improvement towards a more sustainable future.
Alicante Elche Airport’s Achievement
Alicante Elche Airport (ALC) has recently been elevated from Level 2 – “Reduction” to Level 3 -“Optimisation” in the ACI’s accreditation programme. While Level 2 required the airport to demonstrate tangible reductions in its own carbon emissions, Level 3 takes a broader approach. It involves engaging third-party entities operating within the airport, such as airlines, ground handling companies, and concessionaires, to collectively work towards reducing emissions. This level of accreditation fosters greater collaboration among all stakeholders within the airport environment.
Initiatives at Alicante Elche Airport
To achieve Level 3 accreditation, Alicante Elche Airport has implemented several key initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions. These include the installation of an intelligent lighting system for the apron area, the provision of electric charging points on the apron, and the electrification of the airport’s vehicle fleet. Additionally, the airport has introduced telemetry systems for more efficient equipment management and adopted the Airport Collaborative Decision Making (ACDM) procedure, which minimises the time aircraft engines are running unnecessarily.
The Path Towards Carbon Neutrality
The next step for Alicante Elche Airport would be to attain Level 3+ -“Neutrality”, with the goal of achieving carbon neutrality for its direct emissions. This objective aligns with the broader strategy outlined in the airport operator Aena’s 2021-2030 Climate Action Plan. The plan includes comprehensive actions to mitigate the effects of climate change, positioning Aena to achieve carbon neutrality by 2026, and ultimately reaching Net Zero emissions by 2030.