The measures will accelerate both airports’ climate and sustainability related ambitions, including achieving net zero emissions by 2050 at the latest, daa said.
The projects are matched by a planned investment of more than €400m. Part of the company’s recent infrastructure application to Fingal County Council, this will make operations at Dublin Airport amongst the most environmentally friendly of any peer airport in Europe. daa is committed to ensuring sustainable growth to meet Ireland's current and future international connectivity needs.
Attendees at the launch event in Dublin city centre heard what daa is doing to reduce its own (Scope 1 and Scope 2) emissions at Dublin and Cork airports, and also how the airport operator is committed to working hand-in-hand with airlines and other companies in the aviation sector to reduce the environmental impact of their operations (Scope 3 emissions). Such initiatives at Dublin Airport include a 90% reduction in carbon emissions from airside vehicles by switching from diesel to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO); investigating on site solar; ground fleet electrification; participating in government taskforces on sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and hydrogen to accelerate these alternatives.
The 20 initiatives announced by daa include:
• Making Dublin Airport diesel free, with all owned vehicles previously powered by diesel switching to hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO)
• The light vehicle fleets at both Dublin and Cork airports being 100% electric by the end of 2024
• The submission of a planning application for a 1,800,000kW solar farm at Cork Airport
• Improving air quality at bus stations at both Dublin and Cork airports with innovative photobioreactor technology
• The fast-tracking of a shared bikes project for Dublin Airport
• The completion of work on over 20 additional electric vehicle parking spaces at Dublin Airport
• Cork Airport to upgrade its apron lighting to energy-efficient LED technology
• New interventions to increase rainwater harvesting, water reuse and the earlier detection of water leaks.
Speaking at the launch event, Kenny Jacobs, daa's CEO, expressed his enthusiasm for the initiatives, saying: “Sustainability sits at the heart of everything that daa is doing and has planned for the years ahead. These 20 projects 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.”
daa is also participating in the Irish government’s Decarbonisation - Reduce Your Use campaign.
