daa – operator of Cork Airport and Dublin Airport (a Headline Partner of the co-located FTE EMEA and FTE Ancillary & Retailing events, Dublin, 11-13 June 2024) – has unveiled details of 20 environmental sustainability initiatives being rolled out, which will accelerate both airports’ climate and sustainability related ambitions, including achieving net zero emissions by 2050 at the latest.
The projects are also matched by a planned investment of more than €400 million as part of the company’s recent Infrastructure Application to Fingal County Council, that will make operations at Dublin Airport among 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.
Initiatives at Dublin Airport include a 90% reduction in carbon emissions from airside vehicles by switching from diesel to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), investigating onsite solar, ground fleet electrification, and 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 1.8 million-kilowatt 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.
- Improvements in lighting and Ground Support Equipment (GSE), are also on the airport operator’s roadmap.
“Sustainability sits at the heart of everything that daa is doing and has planned for the years ahead,” said Kenny Jacobs, CEO, daa. “The 20 projects we’re announcing details of today 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.”
