Brasilia Airport now has a modern and sustainable system for keeping the electrics and air conditioning of parked aircraft operating. The new technology replaces the diesel-powered equipment that previously performed the same function. The project was developed by ENGIE, the largest private sector electric energy company in Brazil, and which operates in the segments of energy generation, commercialization, and transmission as well as in the activities of gas transportation and energy solutions. The company has concluded the installation of the system which is already in operation at 22 passenger boarding bridges at the Brasilia terminal. This is a unique solution in Brazil, installation taking 10 months to conclude. Work on the solution was begun prior to the pandemic.
The new technology will mean a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. It is estimated that the equipment avoids about 20 thousand tons of CO2 emissions every year, equivalent to the planting of more than 120 thousand trees, thus making the operation at Brasilia Airport more economic and sustainable. In addition to reducing the carbon footprint, the system also reduces noise levels provoked by the engines of stand-alone equipment used by the companies for maintaining the aircraft systems operating, at the same time saving jet fuel which is an important cost element for the companies.
“The initiative is in line with our proposition of acting to accelerate the transition to a carbon neutral world through lower energy consumption and more sustainable solutions”, declares Leonardo Serpa, chief executive officer of ENGIE Soluções. In addition to becoming more sustainable and efficient, the airlines will also optimize their costs since electric energy tends to have more competitive prices”, Serpa concludes.
For Inframerica’s head of aviation business, Roberto Luiz, the new service is one more initiative for improving the efficiency of apron operations at the airport and ranks the terminal on a par with major world air terminals. “The new solution reduces the carbon footprint and makes it safer with fewer obstacles for maneuvering vehicles and people as well as reducing noise levels of the operations. With this initiative, we are endeavoring to show our commitment to reducing greenhouse gases (GHG) and reinforcing our actions to the benefit of a more sustainable operation”, explains Luiz.
The executive also adds that the new system is part of a sustainability project in which the concessionaire is investing to reduce CO2 emissions from airport operations with the inclusion of clean energy sources. In September last year, airport management began using energy from a photovoltaic plant installed in the terminal and solar energy already supplies part of the Airport’s energy requirements.
Serpa also says that ENGIE is negotiating the installation of the system at other airports, the latter, for the Company, a strategic segment involving electric mobility solutions and other services.