Amid international consensus that the world must seek to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, Airports Council International has recently adopted a goal for member airports worldwide to achieve net zero carbon by 2050.
With over 100 years of combined history serving clients globally, C&S and Steer have joined forces to provide
the airport industry with a full-service offering for decarbonization. Our partnership is a unique integration of C&S’s
planning and design experience with Steer’s expertise in strategic and economic consulting. Our approach is tailored
to secure buy-in from all levels in the airport organization while bringing cost-effective, impactful projects to fruition.
One team. One full-service approach. Designed for airports.
Step 1: Use the inputs on the left to establish your business-as-usual trajectory.
Step 2: Drag the needles on the bottom to see how your emissions change over time.
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By 2050, your airport’s Scope 1 and 2 emissions may change by
Aviation represents 2-3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Of aviation’s total carbon footprint, aircraft produce the vast majority of the industry’s emissions, leaving airports wondering what their role is to play.
Decarbonization may require the repurposing or upgrading of existing energy infrastructure, including fuel systems to accommodate renewable liquid fuels and electrical transmission/distribution systems to handle higher and more variable loads.
Airports may face challenges finding the space to install on-site energy generation and storage, or even replacing existing fossil-fuel powered heating equipment with alternative fuel.
Airports are constantly asked to do more with less, and projects that enhance safety, security, and infrastructure are prioritized for limited resources. Without adequate funding or key industry partnerships, airports may struggle to identify the capital necessary to achieve net zero carbon.
FAA launched the Airport Climate Challenge in 2022, challenging airports to achieve net zero emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) by 2050 and identified industry best practices for airports to optimize emissions reductions. Many states have adopted their own regulations or incentive programs to incentivize decarbonization.
The typical net zero toolkit tends to encompass Scope 1 and 2 emissions, since airports have the most operational control over these sources. But because Scope 3 emissions typically constitute over 90% of an airport's carbon footprint, these emissions sources cannot be ignored. The complex nature of scope 3 emissions can be intimidating to airports of any size and require a different approach.
With the vision of a more sustainable future in mind, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Airports Council International North America (ACI-NA) are aligned in their commitment to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions from the U.S. aviation sector by 2050. This shared objective underscores the urgent need for airports nationwide to align their operations with broader sustainability goals, paving the way for a cleaner, greener trajectory.
Achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 is the aviation industry’s most challenging long-term goal. While reducing aircraft greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) as demand for air travel continues to grow will be the single most challenging task, the ultimate set of solutions will require all industry stakeholders to make significant contributions to GHG reduction.
C&S developed a vehicle and equipment electrification plan, evaluating opportunities for converting the many vehicles and equipment operating at PHL from petroleum to electric. The objectives of this plan were to reduce the Airport’s Scope 1 emissions through electrification of its own fleet and reduce Scope 3 emissions through installation of charging infrastructure for use by passengers, employees, ground transportation providers, and tenants. C&S completed a baseline analysis documenting the existing vehicle and equipment fleet mix at the airport and currently installed charging infrastructure, followed by a gap analysis to determine the total number of electric vehicles and chargers necessary to meet the Airport’s petroleum and emission reduction targets. C&S developed fleet replacement timelines, estimated costs, and identified funding streams to support procurement. C&S also conducted an infrastructure analysis to determine the number of chargers that could be installed in the Airport’s parking garages based on current electrical capacity and made recommendations for optimal charging locations.
Steer assisted JFK NTO, the developers and operators of the New Terminal One at JFK International Airport in New York City, with negotiations, financial modeling and market analysis of the development of a microgrid. In 2022 AlphaStruxure announced a deal to construct and operate a microgrid at the New Terminal One site. The microgrid will include the largest rooftop solar array on any airport terminal in the United States and will be the largest rooftop array in New York City. It will generate enough electricity to power over 3,500 average US homes for a year and will supply the New Terminal One with power as well as hot and chilled water for heating and cooling.
Steer assisted JFK NTO in their market analysis, financial modeling and commercial negotiations with AlphaStruxure, assisting with evaluation of the potential system design, cost-benefit analysis, energy market assessments and risk and governance evaluation. The agreement provides JFK NTO with access to guaranteed, low carbon energy at predictable costs over the life of the project with no upfront capital costs.
C&S led a study on the feasibility of eliminating natural gas usage at SAN’s central utility plant (CUP). SAN has set ambitious decarbonization goals with the ultimate objective of carbon neutrality, and natural gas usage at the CUP represents the single biggest technical hurdle to achieving these goals. SAN sought to understand what choices were available for complete natural gas replacement, their life cycle costs, and what other projects were needed to support that conversion.
C&S and our partner evaluated multiple scenarios involving air source heat pumps, energy efficiency, and strategic phasing strategies to nearly eliminate heating emissions at the airport in a cost-effective manner. C&S evaluated the infrastructure implications of heat pumps, including the ability of existing electrical capacity at the CUP to support the project. The analysis showed that heat pumps, phased in 10-unit modules over several years, would be the most efficient option with the same approximate life cycle cost as conventional electric boilers. As part of the project, C&S facilitated workshops with SAN’s Utilities Working Group to review the preliminary results, consider siting options, and discuss the way forward.
Steer, in partnership with Dr Craig Edgar were commissioned by London Luton Airport Operations Limited to develop a strategy to reduce the carbon footprint of energy use across the airport site by exploring the potential renewable generation technologies that could be deployed onsite, the transition of the airport fleet to zero emission vehicles and the required charging infrastructure. The study involved extensive stakeholder engagement, baselining of energy use and CO2e emissions from electricity, heat and transport fleets, a comprehensive technology assessment of all potential onsite renewables, EV vehicles and charging solutions available for deployment over the transition period, scenario development and techno-economic modelling to enable the client to meet its ambitious 2035 Net Zero targets.
This was accompanied by an action plan for phasing and installation of the transition plan. The team has been commissioned to complete follow-on work including supporting the airport as they implement a ground mounted PV plus battery project and development of a procurement policy for the EV fleet transition. Summary report and models were developed. These were discussed with Client and a preferred route for low carbon energy generation developed. We then worked with the Client to identify a contracting solution which we are now supporting the implementation of.
C&S led a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) infrastructure assessment at PDX to identify upgrades to distribution pipelines and blending tanks to accommodate SAF at the Airport. SAF is an alternative to petroleum-based jet fuel to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from aircraft and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. C&S documented the existing jet fuel delivery system to the Airport, evaluated the existing jet fuel storage and distribution system, and identified potential drop-in locations for SAF. Because current standards require SAF to be blended with conventional Jet-A, C&S studied the feasibility of off-site and on-site blending. While off-site blending was preferrable from an airport infrastructure perspective, delivery of blended fuel was limited by current pipeline infrastructure. C&S developed a series of recommended areas for future research, including working with airlines and the Airport’s fuel consortium to confirm interest and move towards formal offtake agreements. Additionally, C&S recommended further coordination with key regional stakeholders, including other airports, fuel producers, refineries, and fuel transporters.
Steer was appointed by the Directorate-General of Research and Innovation (European Commission) to undertake an overview of key green aviation technologies and conditions for their market uptake. Steer is being supported in delivery by the Institute of Air Transport and Airport Research of the German Aerospace Centre, DLR. The study was undertaken in the context of the Clean Aviation Partnership’s Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) for the period 2030-2050. The objective of the project is to identify the prerequisites for the market entry of climate-neutral aviation technologies as well as the flanking measures required for this to be successful. The scope of the study is hydrogen and electrically powered aircraft in the regional and short/medium range categories, taking a holistic view on the technological development and keeping the economic context in mind. The outcome of the study will serve as guidance for the Commission and other actors with regard to further policy or industry initiatives, such as in the context of Horizon Europe or the Alliance Zero Emission Aviation.
Kara Young specializes in helping airports collect and manage data to calculate progress against net zero goals. Her expertise includes airport greenhouse gas emissions inventories and supporting airports with Airport Carbon Accreditation, as well as extensive project history with air quality and other airport environmental services.
Dr. Victoria Johnson is an experienced consultant and project manager with 18 years in climate change/net zero policy, social impact appraisal, and low carbon innovation. She is a multidisciplinary researcher in the field and brings a comprehensive understanding of the Net Zero domain.
Alexandra Davis has national experience decarbonizing airport capital projects of every size and scale. She specializes in reducing the carbon impact of airport infrastructure through embodied carbon analysis, use of low carbon materials, and community and stakeholder engagement.
