Airports are major global hubs, creating countless opportunities for their respective economies. However, the industry accounts for nearly 5% of global emissions. So what’s being done to transform these hubs into greener entities? And who is on board to help?
In our latest edition of Sifted Talks, we asked key figures in sustainable aviation why it’s so important to decarbonise airports, what solutions are available, how increasing passenger traffic will make going greener more difficult and how businesses can collaborate. Our speakers were:
- Edward Arkwright, deputy CEO of Groupe ADP, one of the biggest airport operators in the world;
- Emilie Gazeau, CEO and cofounder of Alltheway.io, a startup which takes your baggage in the Paris city centre and delivers it to your flight;
- Alan Kingsley-Dobson, COO of Aerovolt, a startup which is deploying a smart infrastructure for electric aviation across the UK and beyond;
- Irwin Kerboriou, lead H2 airport operations manager of Beyond Aero, a startup which is developing the world’s first business aircraft using hydrogen.
Here are the key takeaways from the panel:
1/ Decarbonising airports is a slow process
To open the panel, Arkwright highlighted the urgency of decarbonisation in the aviation industry: “For our industry, decarbonisation has become a licence to operate, a licence to survive. So, first of all, there is no choice… yet we know that there is no silver bullet.”
He gave three potential solutions: convince travellers to use aviation only when necessary and beneficial, explore and implement new energy solutions to shift the current energy mix towards more sustainable options and maximise the efficiency of existing infrastructure.
“The aviation industry moves slowly: systems, processes, manufacturing and operations have been the same for decades now. The way to actually bring about change in aviation is going to be through startups, someone thinking outside the box.” — Alan Kingsley-Dobson, COO, Aerovolt
2/ Green aviation requires green infrastructure
One startup leading the decarbonisation charge is French startup Beyond Aero. By 2030, it aims to launch a fleet of hydrogen-electric aeroplanes for the business sector. This year, in 2024, the startup completed the first manned hydrogen flight in the country. But Kerboriou said its biggest challenge is introducing green infrastructure in airports.
Kingsley-Dobson agreed, but said aviation is about to have its “Tesla moment”, adding that electric airports are not a question of if, but when.
“We’re already getting offers from Australia, America, New Zealand and other places in Europe to come and put networks out, because I think seeing it for real and seeing it in the ground, available for use, has started to spur the conversation.” — Kingsley-Dobson, Aerovolt
3/ Managing passenger flow will become a challenge
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) predicts that by 2037, global passenger numbers will climb to 8.2bn annually, almost doubling current figures.
Lidar, a type of laser tracking that monitors objects moving in 3D space, will play a vital role in moving passengers, said Arkwright.
Alltheway.io, a startup that allows passengers to check in luggage at various city locations like co-working spaces and convention centres, offers another solution: helping airports manage footfall with an off-airport luggage service, including pickup and delivery. “Our approach supports airports in cutting carbon emissions on three main points: reducing infrastructure saturation; improving operational efficiency; and enabling passengers to change their mobility behaviour,” said Gazeau.
“We create additional square metres everywhere. We create mini airports everywhere.” — Emilie Gazeau, CEO and cofounder, Alltheway.io
4/Collaboration is needed between airports and startups
Due to the challenges of installing new infrastructure, startups must future-proof their initiatives.
“We are convinced that in the coming years commercial aviation will turn to liquid hydrogen, so there is also this question of how we can still use gas now but switch to liquid infrastructure in the future,” said Kerboriou, who is starting feasibility studies with big airports like Le Bourget in Paris, run by Groupe ADP.
Smaller regional airports, like Brighton City with 42k annual aircraft movements, are more open to innovative technologies to address local concerns such as noise and air traffic, added Kingsley-Dobson.
“It’s a real advantage to have players such as ADP that are keen to work with us.” — Irwin Kerboriou, lead H2 airport operations manager, Beyond Aero
5/ Sustainable aviation fuel is in high demand
The audience was particularly curious about sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
Arkwright noted that ADP and Le Bourget Airport, a leading airport for private aviation in Europe, has experienced a 300% increase in demand for SAF within one year.
“[The aviation industry] must do our best to make more SAF available, to fulfil the requests of European authorities to have an incorporation rate which will allow us to be as decarbonised as quickly as possible.” — Arkwright, Groupe ADP
6/ Changing mindset and regulations is a top priority
Arkwright believes the time has come for governments to better support the aviation industry on the path toward decarbonisation and recognise that green infrastructure around airports, such as new hydrogen plants, is just as important as new runways or terminals.
Gazeau believes consumers are willing to pay more to cut their carbon footprint, with this shift being just the first step toward a more crucial change.
“The next step is going to be what we call intermodal travel, or how we make planes and trains work together. We were talking about airports becoming energy hubs; I think they’re going to become more and more mobility hubs.” — Gazeau, Alltheway.io
Like this and want more? Watch the full Sifted Talks here:
International airport operators Groupe ADP, AIG and TAV Airports are hosting Airport Innovation Days for startups to pitch for prize money, meet investors and get the chance to work with major aviation groups. Apply now
Read the orginal article: https://sifted.eu/articles/startups-decarbonise-airports-brnd/
