The operator of Dublin and Cork airports, daa, has revealed details of 20 environmental sustainability initiatives being rolled out at the two Irish hubs, which will help both airports achieve net zero emissions by 2050 at the latest.
As part of the company’s recent Infrastructure Application to Fingal County Council the sustainability and environmental projects will be matched by a planned investment of €400 million.
The 20 initiatives announced by daa include efforts to reduce its own (Scope 1 and 2) emissions, the airport operator is working closely with airlines and other companies in the aviation sector to reduce the environmental impact of their operations (Scope 3). Such initiatives at Dublin include a 90% reduction in carbon emissions from airside vehicles by switching form diesel to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), while light vehicle fleets at both Cork and Dublin will be 100% electric by the end of 2024 and there is the submission of a planning application for a 1.8 million-kilowatt solar farm at Cork Airport. Air quality at bus stations at both airports will be improved with innovative photobioreactor technology and a shared bike project for Dublin Airport is being fast tracked. Cork Airport will also have its apron lighting upgraded to energy-efficient LED technology and work on over 20 additional electric vehicle parking spaces at Dublin will also be completed. Improvements in lighting and Ground Support Equipment (GSE) are also on the airport operator’s roadmap.
Expressing his enthusiasm for the sustainability initiatives, Kenny Jacobs, daa’s CEO said: “Sustainability sits at the heart of everything that daa is doing and has planned for the years ahead. The 20 projects we’re announcing details of align with our commitment to meet Ireland’s ongoing international connectivity needs while ensuring safe, efficient and sustainable growth. With a wide range of projects already planned for this year, we are dedicated to fast-tracking our achievement of net-zero by 2050 at the latest.”
Image: (C) Cork Airport
