Energy and climate

Reducing the companyʼs greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2040 is one of Zurich Airport Groupʼs top priorities.

Relevance

Of the known greenhouse gases, only carbon dioxide (CO₂) is emitted in any significant quantity at airports. Each year, therefore, Zurich Airport Ltd. records the CO₂ emitted by each of its airports in an emissions inventory in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. Other greenhouse gases, such as those emitted by refrigerants for example, are recorded as CO₂ equivalents. All greenhouse gas sources are allocated to different spheres of influence known as “scopes”. Scope 1 comprises sources within the company. At the Zurich site these mainly include heating systems, in-house electricity generation and the vehicle fleet. Scope 2 relates to emissions resulting from generation of the energy purchased from external suppliers. Finally, Scope 3 covers all other airport-related sources (e. g. ground handling and aircraft, including flights to the final destination) plus sources from upstream and downstream processes, for example in connection with landside access traffic, energy production or waste disposal. At over 99%, by far the majority of emissions arising at Zurich Airport as a whole fall into Scope 3.

Besides reducing its own greenhouse gas emissions, the company is also facing the challenge of adapting to climate change that is already happening as this affects airport operations in numerous ways. Changing precipitation and wind patterns are just one example of the effect of rising average temperatures that require the company to take infrastructural and operational measures. An analysis of the impact on the company and resulting risks was carried out during the year under review. The measures that consequently need to be taken will be determined during the present year.

Approach and progress

Net zero by 2040

The Zurich Airport Group is endeavouring to reduce its energy demand and fossil fuel consumption as much as possible in order to lower associated greenhouse gas emissions. It has set itself the goal of reducing its Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions at all its airports to net zero by 2040. This means that any remaining anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions must be offset by removal of carbon from the atmosphere so that the balance is zero. In other words: those who continue emitting greenhouse gases must also ensure that they remove an equivalent amount from the atmosphere for a given period. As an interim target, the company is aiming to reduce its annual greenhouse gas emissions at the Zurich site to just 20,000 tonnes by 2030. To help it meet these targets, the company has drawn up a gradual reduction roadmap.

The biggest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in Scope 1 at Zurich Airport is the airportʼs own combined heat and power generation plant which both produces electricity for the airport and distributes heat over a district heating grid. Although the plant is operated efficiently with natural gas or fuel oil, it nevertheless emits a considerable amount of greenhouse gases. A priority for Zurich Airport Ltd. is therefore to reduce energy demand in its buildings. Each building renovation leads to lower energy demand thanks to better insulation, more efficient systems and new heating and cooling concepts. To tackle the increasing demands and accelerate progress, during the reporting year a new Energy & Decarbonisation department was created in the Real Estate division and was tasked with cutting greenhouse gas emissions linked to the companyʼs buildings. One of its first acts was to begin drawing up a new future energy supply masterplan.

Besides buildings, vehicles are also a significant source of greenhouse gases. The transition to electric vehicles, which has been underway for some years already, continued during the reporting year. The reduction roadmap outlines the transition to electric vehicles as far as possible. The increasing number of battery-powered vehicles will necessitate further expansion of the charging infrastructure, both airside for partner companies and landside for the general public. One external airport partner opened a public fast charging station during the year under review.

The Zurich Airport Group actively encourages its airport partners to make significant cuts to their emissions as well. Providing the necessary support by installing the charging infrastructure required for electric-powered vehicles and machines is just one of several measures it is taking at the Zurich site. Installing ground power systems to supply electrical power and air conditioning at stands so aircraft do not need to use their auxiliary power units is another. This will greatly reduce aircraft greenhouse gas emissions as aircraft are obliged to use the ground power systems and are only permitted to use auxiliary power units shortly before starting their engines. As a beneficial side effect, this also helps to significantly reduce noise and pollutant emissions. The same type of fixed ground power systems for supplying electrical power and air conditioning to aircraft are currently also being installed at all terminal parking stands at Florianópolis and Vitória airports in Brazil in order to reduce their Scope 3 emissions.

In addition to the requirement of the Zurich Airport Group that net zero be reached by 2040, the three sites in Florianópolis, Vitória and Macaé in Brazil have set an additional target of achieving climate neutrality by 2030. Carbon offset certificates may also be used for the latter. In India, where Noida Airport is under construction, the intention is to reduce greenhouse gases to net zero already by 2030. Ongoing feasibility studies are being conducted to identify what action needs to be taken.

Airport Carbon Accreditation

During the reporting year the three majority-owned airports in Brazil at Florianópolis, Vitória and Macaé succeeded in advancing one ACA level and now have level 2 accreditation. This means they are continually reducing their greenhouse gas emissions every year.

Large-scale consumers agreement

As a large-scale energy consumer, Zurich Airport Ltd. has signed an agreement with the Building Department of the Canton of Zurich. This requires the company to make average annual efficiency savings of 2% until 2030, measured on the basis of the heated area of the airport and the number of user units (passengers, freight, other visitors). In return it is exempted from implementing some specific cantonal regulations. The target for specific energy consumption was met in the reporting period.

Energy and climate leader

Participation in the Swiss Confederationʼs Exemplary Energy and Climate initiative further underlines Zurich Airport Ltd.ʼs pioneering role in energy and climate protection. As part of this initiative it is implementing concrete measures to improve energy efficiency, to expand renewable energy sources and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Sustainable fuels

In order to contribute to lowering aviation-related greenhouse gas emissions beyond its airport operations, Zurich Airport Ltd. is committed to the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). SAF is fuel made from biogenic waste or synthetically manufactured fuel, and over the course of its life cycle it produces at least 80% lower carbon emissions than fossil-based kerosene. Zurich Airport Ltd. advocates the use of SAF, both in its role as a center of expertise among its partners at Zurich Airport and the rest of Switzerland as well as at its other locations abroad. It also supports political endeavours aimed at a blend ratio harmonised with the EU.

Zurich Airport Ltd. has itself signed an agreement with ETH spin-off Synhelion SA for the future supply of synthetic diesel fuel for vehicles. Synhelion plans to use novel technology to produce synthetic fuel at scale from water, CO₂ and solar energy.

Situation in the reporting year

After proving extremely challenging at the beginning of the reporting year, the provision of energy to users improved noticeably in the spring. The measures taken to reduce demand during the previous year continued into the first months of the reporting year, and some will be continued on a long-term basis. Concepts for dealing with shortages remain ready to be deployed.

During the year under review, the company’s specialists continued to work on reducing energy demand. For example, in Dock E, the heat pump was optimised, and the use of geothermal heat increased. An improvement in waste heat recovery also contributed to reducing fossil-based heat.

Compared to the previous year, in the reporting year the airport’s own heating plant, which can be run on both gas and heating oil, was operated almost exclusively with gas. This is the main reason for the lower greenhouse gas emissions from heat production. Other reasons included the high temperatures in the second-hottest year in Switzerland since measurements began – resulting in lower heating demand, as well as the higher overall efficiency of the heating plant.

The share of renewable energies was increased slightly for electricity (see diagram). By contrast, in terms of fuels, the share of renewables declined markedly. This was because biogas was not used during the reporting year, whereas it accounted for a significant share in the previous year.

Key data

Greenhouse gas emissions

Energy