Sustainable Aviation
Transition to a Net Zero World
Introduction
01
Strategy & ESG
03
02
Planning
04
Landside Transportation
08
Civil Design
06
Future Fuels
09
Digital
10
Infrastructure & Systems Design
07
Advanced Air Mobility
11
Building Design
05
Contacts
Airports are an integral part of the response to climate change, and ACI recognizes that each airport, country, and region is different. This long-term carbon goal is ambitious and aspirational and is intended to be adopted by individual airports in accordance with local conditions, with the support of local governments, and to a timeline towards net zero by 2050 that works for them.
ACI recommends a global long-term carbon goal for airports to be Net zero by 2050
Airports are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions
"ACI member airports at a global level commit to reach Net Zero Carbon emissions by 2050 and urge governements to provide the necessary support to this endeavour."
Goal
Pathway
CLICK BELOW FOR DETAIL
The pathway to reach Net Zero Carbon emissions by 2050 is to align with the IPCC's goal of limiting global warming to 1.5˚C.
Airport Emission Sources
SCOPE 1
SCOPE 2
SCOPE 3
NOTE: These are non-exhaustive examples of key Scope 3 carbon emissions categories
SOURCE: Changi Airport Group (CAG) Sustainability Report 2021-2022; available online.
2015
2016
2017
2018
2000000
1500000
1000000
500000
0
2019
GHG Emissions (MTCO2e)
The GHG emissions data from LAX shows the huge impact of scope 3 emissions on an airport’s carbon footprint.
Indicative Emissions Breakdown
Scope 3
Our approach to aviation delivers net zero approaches to scope 1 and 2 emissions, while also supporting pathways to deep emissions reduction for scope 3 emissions from embodied emissions in construction, plane fuel and land side transportation.
Scope 1 & 2
94%
6%
(88 MAP)
LAX 2019
(81 MAP)
LHR 2019
(68 MAP)
SIN 2019
99%
1%
85%
15%
Scope 3 Emissions
Source: 2019 public Sustainability Reporting by LAX, LHR, and SIN; available online.
Airports can have greater direct impact on reducing Scope 1 & 2 emissions. Reduction of scope 3 emissions requires collaboration with airport stakeholders.
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Future Technology
Advisory
Dar Group Sustainability Services
Dar Group offers sustainability services ranging from planning and advisory through design and the adoption of future technologies.
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Strategy and ESG Services
Energy efficiency & management
Water efficiency & recycling
Electrification & decarbonization
GHG/criteria air pollutant measurement & management
Materials management
Green purchasing
Embodied carbon & sequestration
Diversity & gender equity
Human rights & trafficking
Living wage & worker rights
Indigenous & community partnerships
Worker health & safety
Union relationships
Executive board structure & oversight
Financial disclosures & statements
Codes of business conduct
Risk & crisis management
Accountability & transparency policies
Core values
Cyber risks & systems
Governance
Social
Environmental
Our experts can advise you in the development of strategy and operational plans to meet your unique goals and targets and report progress to investors and stakeholders.
Climate and Congestion Program Evaluation – Seattle, Washington
Transportation accounts for two-thirds of Seattle’s overall greenhouse gas emissions, and the City has established an ambitious target to reduce transportation emissions 82% by 2030. This project evaluated the impact of the City’s current and planned transportation programs—ranging from implementing congestion pricing, to expanding transit service, to new shared mobility programs—on reducing vehicle miles traveled, greenhouse gas emissions, and congestion issues. Our team is developing a new modeling and scenario planning tool that will provide the City with critical information on climate and congestion impacts of individual programs, as well as synergies between related strategies, to help guide decision-making and resource allocation.
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Carbon Neutrality Framework – Washington D.C.
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This strategy provides a pathway for the District of Columbia to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. Elements include building retrofits, building and vehicle electrification, and waste management to reduce citywide carbon emissions, along with a community engagement framework. Also included is a detailed geospatial analysis of building electrification to evaluate grid capacity constraints and resiliency risks to model the potential for non-wires alternatives (building efficiency improvements, demand flexibility, etc.) as a cost-effective pathway to address grid capacity constraints.
Central Precinct Renewal Program – Sydney, Australia
The Central Precinct Renewal Program (CPRP) has a clear vision to demonstrate best-practice environmental, social, and economic outcomes for urban renewal through a whole-of-life approach to sustainability through planning, design, construction and ongoing precinct management, maximizing resource efficiency to contribute to net zero emissions by 2050, strengthening the precinct’s resilience to urban hazards and climate change, and enhancing biodiversity through the greening of public and private spaces.
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Energy Transformation Initiative – London, England
The London Energy Transformation Initiative (LETI) is a network of over 150 built environment professionals that are working together to put London on a path to a zerocarbon future. The voluntary group is made up of developers, engineers, housing associations, architects, planners, academics, sustainability, professionals, contractors and facilities managers, with support and input by the Greater London Authority (GLA) and London boroughs.
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Whole Life Carbon Approach
Our Teams employ the Whole Life Carbon Approach that uses Life Cycle Assessments to determine GHG emissions through a project’s construction, operations, and end-of-life in order to deliver low-carbon systems that support the circular economy.
Whole life carbon
Embodied carbon
Operational carbon
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Energy and Sustainability Master Plan Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
The CVG Energy and Sustainability Master Plan is currently underway and is designed to guarantee energy savings over time by providing a roadmap for an efficient, practical, cost-effective, and robust energy infrastructure system implementation including a multi-year timeline, developing a plan to address resilience and climate change concerns, and developing an ESG (environmental, social, and governance) reporting framework.
Comprehensive Sustainability Plan Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
The Comprehensive Sustainability Plan aligns CLT’s future goals with City and State goals, and identifies opportunities appropriate to the airport’s unique operating environment through Stakeholder Engagement; Sustainability Baseline Assessment; Goals and Targets/Recommended Actions; Implementation Plan and Monitoring Program; and Public participation and community outreach
Sustainable Airport Manual Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA)
The Sustainable Airport Manual was developed to ensure sustainability is incorporated into all aspects of airport design/construction projects and operations/maintenance activities at Chicago O’Hare and Midway International Airports for the CDA and its concessionaires and tenants.
We provide guidance in incorporating principles of sustainability into all aspects of an airport’s design and construction as well as everyday operations and maintenance activities.
Planning for the Future of Aviation
[CEROS OBJECT]
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Net Zero Building Design – PEARL Building, University College of London (UCL)
UCL’s PEARL (Person-Environment-Activity Research Laboratory) building is the college’s first net zero carbon building. The building is actually carbon negative because of the export of surplus energy from UCL’s largest installation of photovoltaic solar panels covering the entire roof. Additional building design features include strong levels of thermal performance, efficient mechanical and electrical systems, water efficiency, responsibly sourced construction materials, and waste minimization as part of a circular economy approach to building design.
Energy Analysis and Decarbonization, JetBlue Terminal 5 - John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
The study determined that with a high-performance design, it is possible to technically meet all targets of minimum 20% energy savings over baseline and meeting local greenhouse gas intensity goals for 2030. The design includes an optimized envelope, high efficiency lighting, HVAC system and Baggage Handling System, an onsite plant including high efficiency ground source heat pumps to meet all project thermal energy demand, and a rooftop photovoltaic system.
Consolidated Administration Campus San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Design for this new consolidated administration campus eliminates expensive mechanical systems, helping SFO to move towards Zero Net Energy operation. SFO’s desire to reduce operating costs and minimize its environmental impact led to ambitious sustainability targets for their new Consolidated Administration Campus, which combines their administrative and technical departments into one campus. Design features include in-slab radiant heating and cooling for optimal thermal comfort, a dedicated outdoor air ventilation system, maximized daylighting, triple-pane glazing, and efficient lighting controls.
New Bugesera International Airport – Rwanda, Africa
This project includes design, construction management, and construction supervision for the New Bugesera International Airport in Rwanda - a new greenfield airport that is planned to handle up to 8.2 MAP and 150-300 thousand tons of cargo annually. It is desired by the Government of Rwanda that the new airport be a net zero emissions complex as a result of energy and water efficiency and solar power, featuring a climate-responsive design, efficient building energy performance, resource stewardship, and smart and healthy building design, to achieve certification under Rwanda’s Green Building Minimum Compliance System.
Sustainable Building Design
Our architects have designed Net Zero buildings that have measurably reduced overall emissions, energy use, and boost occupant health, well-being, and productivity.
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Taxiway Rehabilitation – Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
The design for the pavement rehabilitation of Taxiways Y and U at PHL incorporates sustainable elements and mandates the achievement of a minimum Envision® Silver Certification. This will be one of the first airfield projects at PHL to obtain Envision® certification. The design incorporates the following Envision® considerations:
• Quality of life - Wellbeing, mobility, community • Leadership – Collaboration, planning, economy • Resource allocation – Materials, energy, water • Natural world – Siting, conservation, ecology • Climate & resilience – Emissions, resilience
Airports must integrate sustainability into civil infrastructure design, construction, operations, and maintenance, including runways and taxiways, aircraft ramps, and airfield roadways.
Sustainable Civil Design
Networking Airport Buildings
Combining shared thermal networks, micro-grid electricity networks, advanced controls for dynamic load matching and embedded generation across the airport precinct.
Infosys Tech Hub - Headquarters Office Building
MEP Design for new 3-story, 150,000 sf office building with a 483 kW Solar PV array capable of producing 630.8 MWh/year of renewable energy with an expected savings of 30% of the building's annual energy consumption.
Campus Energy Upgrades, Salina Training Center - Kansas Army National Guard
Design of a 400 kW solar parking lot structure, 500 kW emergency generator that can carry the whole building, and replacement of over 700 plumbing fixtures to reduce water usage.
Geoexchange Central Plant - Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
The project includes construction of a new Central Utilities Building that will utilize the largest geo-exchange system in Canada. Modifications will also be made to the Terminal Building to increase efficiency. The project will reduce YVR’s greenhouse gas emissions by 33%.
Transition to a Zero emissions airport can be supported by innovations: Renewable Energy, Advanced Energy Systems and Optimized Energy Performance.
Infrastructure and Systems Design
Traffic Design, LAX-it Expansion – Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
This project involves field work and design concepts for the current and future operations of LAX-it (LA Exit) the new way for passengers to get to taxi or ride app services (Uber, Lyft, or Opoli). Goals of the project are to improve the ability for passengers to physically reach for-hire vehicles, including passenger walking routes and passenger shuttle routes to the TNC and taxi areas that are designed to optimize circulation and operations, enhance the customer experience, and facilitate redevelopment efforts at LAX.
Zero-Emission Bus Transition - Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)
Our team modeled the state of charge (SOC) of zero-emission electric buses to understand compatibility with current scheduled service, including schedule reliability, bus accumulation, travel speeds, and topography to support full fleet electrification. We also led facility electrification for each of SEPTA’s eight bus storage facilities and two maintenance facilities to determine preferred facility charging strategies, siting of charging equipment and electrical infrastructure, and operational considerations. In addition, we led an evaluation of hydrogen fuel cell feasibility at each of SEPTA’s bus depots and conducted a full lifecycle cost-benefit of fuel cell vs. battery bus deployment across the SEPTA bus system.
Facilities Master Plan and Zero Emission Fleet Project – Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC-SNV)
First Zero Emission Transition Plan and Facility Modernization Strategy for RTC-SNV. This includes operation and maintenance facilities for battery electric bus (BEB), hydrogen fuel cell electric bus (FCEB), and zero emission paratransit vehicles. The project includes an analysis of existing and future transit base (maintenance facility).
Landside transportation is a critical consideration in airport Scope 3 emissions. Major trends that support sustainable transportation are EV fleet vehicles, Zero emission fleet vehicles and improved modal diversity for passenger, employees, and transportation providers.
Sustainable Landside Transportation
We have experts in electrification (battery), hydrogen and SAF, along with other emerging fuel types. These innovations offer additional opportunities for significant reductions in Scope 3 emissions at airports.
Hydrogen Supply - Inverness and Glasgow Airports, Scotland
Project included risk assessment of hydrogen supply and storage infrastructure. Key insights include need to address public perception and the need for Standards within the airport industry.
Fleet and Facility Modernization – Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), New York
The project included development of a space and cost assessment for siting alternatives for electric supply and charging equipment, including development of a cost-benefit model and rate charge optimization model designed to align needed repair and upgrades with electrification modernization requirements.
Amazon Warehouse Charging Solutions – Rochester, New York Region
The project included design and infrastructure for over 800 delivery van Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations on a 73-acre site that includes warehouse space and parking for 1,000+ vehicles.
South Satellite Terminal Electrification – Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Siting and Design of airside Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure for Ground Support Equipment (GSE) and SEA fleet vehicles in support of the airport’s overall zero emissions strategy.
Opportunity for significant reductions in Scope 3 emissions.
Digital Solutions - Digital Twin
A digital twin is a real-time digital representation of a physical component, an asset, a full system, or a process across its entire lifecycle:
draws on existing data ecosystems
goes beyond static BIM models
is armed with advanced analytic, visualization, and computing capabilities
connects the physical and digital infrastructure of an asset
•
OVERVIEW
Value Proposition
Facilities Application
Application Dashboard – User Comfort
Application Dashboard – Buildings Operations
Take a tour with an air transit story
Pre-built air transit networks and expert-driven viewpoints provide information on varying perspectives
Build and explore an air transit network
Place vertiports and explore their spatial context with live data, then connect routes around obstructions in 3D
Introduction to Advanced Air Mobility
The Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) that are likely to be electric and zero emissions present one of the opportunities for emissions reduction in urban transportation. The challenges of providing charging infrastructure to urban vertiports is aligned with some of the utility systems challenges for airports too. Advanced Air Mobility also presents an opportunity for resilience in our response to disaster management and emergency access. Where human pilots are a constraint in effective post-climate emergency response, AAM provides an opportunity to reach many people, widely distributed in a short time frame.
Our experts are engaged in early developments of AAM and can advise you on emerging aviation technology for urban & regional mobility and UAVs that present promising sustainable opportunities in aviation.
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Sara Christen
Sustainability
Berta Fernandez
Aviation
AMERICAS
Dr. Dorte Rich Jorgensen
Europe
David Barker
Gary Gibb
Asia Pacific
Balsam Nehme
Peter Busby
MIDDLE EAST
AFRICA
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