Ground operations electrification work launched at Nantes airport
As part of VINCI Airports' environmental strategy, Nantes Atlantique airport is pursuing the reduction of its carbon footprint by launching a major electrification project for its ground operations.
This €15 million project, 70% funded by Aéroports du Grand Ouest, was made possible thanks to the support of the European Union, which is financing 30%, and the backing of the Banque des Territoires. It will contribute to a reduction of 2,400 tonnes of CO2e* per year.
In practical terms, this electrification work will power 12 aircraft stations on the tarmac, eliminating the need for planes to use their auxiliary power units or thermal equipment, thus reducing the use of fossil fuels. An additional 100 electric charging points will be installed on the airside to supply power to airport vehicles, passenger transport buses, ground support equipment (such as baggage tractors, etc.), and refuellers. These charging stations will be operational by the end of 2025.
This project contributes directly to the implementation of the European regulation on the deployment of alternative fuel infrastructures (AFIR), which requires airports to supply electricity to parked aircraft at all contact stands (gates) by 2025, and at all remote stands by 2030.
“As we electrify the aircraft stands and install charging stations for ground equipment, we are helping to reduce indirect emissions, which aligns with our strategy to lower the environmental impact of our airport operations. This commitment has been driven by VINCI Airports since 2016 and aims to reduce not only the CO2 emissions directly related to airport activities but also indirect emissions, which are mainly associated with aircraft operations,” explains Xavier Lortat-Jacob, President of Aéroports du Grand Ouest and General Manager of Nantes Atlantique Airport.
* CO2e (or carbon dioxide equivalent) is a metric created by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to account for not only CO2 but also other greenhouse gases (such as methane and nitrous oxide).
VINCI Airports, as the leading private airport operator in the world. manages the development and operation of more than 70 airports located in 14 countries in Europe, Asia and the Americas. VINCI Airports draws on its expertise as a comprehensive integrator to develop, finance, build and operate airports. leveraging its investment capability and know-how to optimise operational performance and modernise infrastructure while bringing about their environmental transition. In 2016. VINCI Airports became the first airport operator to commit to an international environmental strategy. setting itself the aim of reaching zero net emissions (scopes 1&2) across the network by 2050.
