Power outages at major airports can trigger global travel chaos, as London's Heathrow (LHR) recently demonstrated. But what if airports could largely insulate themselves from such disruptions? A growing number of U.S. airports are exploring innovative solutions like on-site solar power and microgrids. Pittsburgh International (PIT) offers a compelling example, saving millions and ensuring operational resilience. Could this be the future of airport energy?
Solar panels and natural gas: is this the sustainable and secure power plan for airports?
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When Christina Cassotis, the chief executive of Pittsburgh International Airport, learned about the power disruption that compelled London's Heathrow Airport to halt its operations the previous week, her immediate thoughts were with the personnel frantically endeavoring to manage the ensuing chaos. However, when a similar power failure occurs closer to her own jurisdiction, her reaction is notably more composed: maintain calm and persevere.
For nearly 4 years, her airport has been autonomously powered by a sophisticated combination of on-site natural gas generators and strategically positioned solar panels. The airport's internal assessments indicate that this self-contained energy system, known as a microgrid, has yielded approximately $1 million in annual savings on its energy expenditures while simultaneously affording the airport the capability to utilize the conventional electric grid as a readily available backup power source, Ms. Cassotis elaborated.
"Our primary motivation for implementing this system was to ensure both operational resilience and energy redundancy," she explained. "Airports constitute critical transportation infrastructure. Our fundamental capability to operate effectively should remain unimpeded, irrespective of external circumstances." This degree of energy independence is an uncommon attribute, particularly among larger-scale airport facilities.
While numerous airports maintain backup generator systems to sustain essential functions, such as air traffic control operations and critical lighting during power outages, these standard emergency provisions possess inherent limitations. For instance, they may necessitate periodic refueling if a power disruption extends over several hours or multiple days. Consequently, the majority of airports remain significantly reliant on external power sources to facilitate the continuous movement of passengers and aircraft.
Nevertheless, airports across the United States are increasingly engaging in experimental initiatives involving the on-site generation and storage of electrical power – predominantly through the utilization of solar energy and battery storage solutions – with the dual objectives of mitigating carbon emissions, proactively preparing for future electricity demands, and effectively managing the escalating disruptions attributed to both climate change impacts and aging infrastructure.
Denver International Airport (DEN), while maintaining multiple connections to the external power grid as a safeguard against individual connection failures, has recently implemented a solar-powered battery storage system specifically designed to ensure the uninterrupted operation of its underground train network during emergency power situations. At New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), a comprehensive $19 billion modernization project incorporates ambitious plans for the installation of thousands of solar panels and advanced battery systems. This strategic move aims to substantially reduce carbon emissions and guarantee the operational continuity of its new Terminal 1, slated for opening in 2026, during power outages that can inflict substantial disruptions and incur significant financial costs for both the airport and all entities dependent upon its functionality.
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"Maintaining a consistently reliable and efficient airport infrastructure directly contributes to bolstering overall economic resilience," emphasized Joey Cathcart, a recognized expert in sustainable aviation practices at RMI, a Colorado-based sustainability non-profit organization formerly known as the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI). He and his colleagues have played a pivotal role in developing a federally funded comprehensive guide specifically tailored for airports contemplating the adoption of microgrid systems similar to the pioneering installation at Pittsburgh International Airport.
Power outages at airport facilities are a more frequent occurrence than many officials would prefer to acknowledge publicly. A comprehensive 2023 report issued by the Government Accountability Office meticulously documented 321 distinct power outages, each lasting a minimum of 5 minutes, across 2 dozen representative U.S. airports during the period spanning from 2015 to 2022. Airports, along with other critical infrastructure components, such as the electric grid itself, are facing an increasing threat from natural disasters, a significant proportion of which are demonstrably linked to the broader phenomenon of climate change. The documented number of severe storms and other weather-related events causing at least $1 billion in economic damage has steadily increased in recent decades, rising from 5 such events in the year 2000 to an alarming 27 events in the preceding year, according to data compiled by the National Centers for Environmental Information, a key division of the U.S. Commerce Department.
In late 2017, an electrical fire incident triggered a significant power outage at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), causing widespread disruptions to flight schedules nationwide and resulting in tens of millions of dollars in financial losses for Delta Air Lines, the airport's largest operating airline. This particular incident, along with other notable power disruptions, prompted Ms. Cassotis to task her team with a thorough investigation into the feasibility and potential benefits of implementing microgrid technology at Pittsburgh International Airport.
"We essentially initiated the process by simply exploring the possibilities," she recalled. "We asked ourselves, 'Is it even feasible for us to have one?'" The airport, strategically located atop the natural gas deposits of the Marcellus Shale formation, subsequently solicited proposals from various entities for the design, construction, and operation of a microgrid system, with the critical stipulation that there would be no upfront capital costs incurred by the airport itself. By the month of July in 2021, the microgrid system was fully operational. Currently, it generates a total of 23 megawatts of electrical energy: 3 megawatts are derived from a solar panel array situated atop a reclaimed former landfill site, and the remaining 20 megawatts are produced by a network of 5 on-site natural gas generators. During periods of peak energy demand, the airport, which served nearly 10 million passengers in the preceding year, typically utilizes only around 14 megawatts of power, allowing it to sell the surplus energy back to the conventional power grid.
Ms. Cassotis stated that the establishment of this microgrid infrastructure, which is owned and operated by 2 separate energy companies, has already yielded significant benefits for the airport. These benefits include the securing of long-term low electricity rates for the facility and a substantial reduction in carbon emissions, exceeding 6 million pounds annually. Moreover, this energy independence has effectively shielded the airport from the disruptive impacts of external power grid failures. The recent closure of Heathrow Airport on March 21st, triggered by a power outage, caused widespread disruption to global air travel, leading to the cancellation of over 1,000 flights and the stranding of thousands of passengers. The incident originated with a fire at an electrical substation. Ms. Cassotis noted that a similar incident had occurred near Pittsburgh's airport just weeks prior, where fires near substations had disrupted some of the power supply lines feeding the airport. In response, the airport proactively disconnected those external feeds, preventing any potential cascading problems from affecting its internal microgrid system, and continued its operations without interruption.
"There's a very real and tangible value associated with this system, both in terms of the dollars we have saved on energy costs," Ms. Cassotis affirmed. "And perhaps equally important is the invaluable peace of mind it provides."
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Operational resilience isn't the sole motivating factor driving airports to explore the on-site generation and storage of electrical power. The aviation industry accounts for a significant 2 to 3% of global carbon emissions and presents a particularly complex challenge for decarbonization efforts due to the limited availability of emission-free alternatives to conventional jet fuel. The strategic deployment of extensive solar panel arrays, such as the thousands already installed at Denver International Airport and those planned for installation at JFK, can play a crucial role in significantly reducing an airport's overall carbon footprint. Moreover, these on-site power generation capabilities can help to supplement the increasing energy demands associated with the gradual transition of airport vehicles, shuttle services, rental car fleets, and, eventually, smaller categories of aircraft to battery-powered operation.
According to Scott Morrissey, the senior vice president of sustainability at Denver International Airport, the facility is served by 2 dedicated electrical substations, each possessing the capacity to independently power the entire airport, thereby providing inherent redundancy in the event of an emergency affecting one of the substations. The airport also maintains a comprehensive network of backup generators as an additional layer of security. "Once we have successfully electrified all of these various operational components, our paramount goal is to ensure that the electricity supply supporting them is as reliable and resilient as it can possibly be," he stated.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the governing body that oversees John F. Kennedy International Airport and the 2 other major airports serving the New York metropolitan region, are also strategically integrating sustainability initiatives with a strong focus on operational resilience. At Kennedy Airport, which already benefits from redundant power sources and backup generator systems, the ambitious redevelopment of Terminal 1 will incorporate a substantial array of rooftop-mounted solar panels, highly efficient fuel cells, and advanced battery storage solutions.
"The ability to avoid and mitigate the significant disruptions caused by power outages is obviously a highly advantageous factor from a business continuity perspective," emphasized Jessica Forse, the lead project manager overseeing the broader airport overhaul project, which includes the comprehensive Terminal 1 redevelopment. "In the context of large, international airports like Heathrow and JFK, such disruptions have far-reaching consequences. They create ripple effects that extend broadly across the entire airspace, both domestically and internationally."
For the present time, such ambitious and comprehensive projects remain relatively limited in number, but interest in their implementation is demonstrably on the rise within the aviation industry. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has actively provided grant funding to airports to facilitate the exploration of these innovative energy solutions. Airport officials have also been proactively seeking guidance and expertise from pioneers in the field, such as Ms. Cassotis and others who were early adopters of solar panel technology and microgrid systems.
"As this market for on-site energy generation and storage has matured and evolved over time, a diverse range of viable options has emerged that should be adaptable to the specific needs and operational scales of different types and sizes of airports," concluded Lauren Shwisberg, who leads research and development efforts aimed at transitioning to less carbon-intensive electricity sources at RMI.
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