The eGPUs will replace conventional diesel-powered units. Electric buses, passenger stairs, conveyor belts and baggage tractors are already in use on the apron. Fifteen more units will follow over the coming year. The very first e-GPUs were officially checked into the fleet at the airport by Stefan Schnorr, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Transport, and Thilo Schmid, CEO of Stuttgart Airport.
The purchase of new e-units for ground power supply is being subsidised to the tune of more than €2m by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport (BMDV) as part of the funding programme for the market activation of alternative technologies for the climate- and environmentally-friendly supply of ground power to aircraft at airports.
“The electrification of the apron is an important step on the way to a climate-neutral airport. By purchasing electric units, our airport is further reducing CO2,” said Thilo Schmid. “By 2035 at the latest, all vehicles and equipment at Cologne Bonn Airport are to be fully equipped with CO2-neutral drives. We are pleased to receive the appropriate support.”
Until now, conventional ground support equipment has been used at Cologne Bonn Airport on the parking positions that cannot be supplied with power directly at the passenger boarding bridges. The use of ground power units reduces noise and exhaust pollution at the airport, as well as fuel consumption and wear and tear on the aircraft's auxiliary power unit. Electric variants (e-GPUs) reduce CO2 emissions even further. They are quieter, rechargeable, emission-free and are used on remote apron positions away from buildings.
Climate protection has been on the airport's agenda for more than a decade. The airport aims to be completely carbon neutral by 2045 at the latest.
With the ground power directive, the BMDV is supporting the transformation from fossil fuels to a climate-neutral power supply for aircraft on the ground.
