London City Airport is implementing a £500m development programme that will see the airport and its energy infrastructure partner UK Power Networks Services install renewable and sustainable energy technologies, including a microgrid, to ensure the long-term resilience and operational excellence of the airport.
The project includes a new passenger terminal extension, which will create facilities four times the size of the current terminal, eight aircraft stands and a parallel taxiway.
London City Airport will also have a digital air traffic control (ATC) tower in 2020, a global first for an airport of this size.
The airport has so far achieved a 28% reduction in its carbon emissions per passenger since 2013, holding Level 3 Airport Carbon Accreditation, and intends to become carbon neutral by 2020.
UK Power Networks Services, which finances, owns, operates and maintains the airport’s existing electricity network, will deliver a microgrid as part of the City Airport Development Programme (CADP).
The microgrid will merge solar photovoltaic, combined heat and power, and smart automation software to double the size of the airport’s electrical distribution infrastructure.
New electrical substations, solar panels, and a combined heat and power unit will double the airport’s electricity capacity from 3.6MVA to 7MVA.
A supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system will remotely control the electricity network. The integrated solution will improve the network’s security and resilience, cut down the cost of infrastructure, and improve air quality around the airport.
London City Airport chief development officer Peter Adams said: “UK Power Networks Services has a long-standing working partnership with London City Airport and the next chapter of this collaboration will embrace the latest low carbon technology to deliver growth more sustainably.”
UK Power Networks Services is also jointly developing the airport’s wider energy strategy, which focusses on new technologies and innovations such as electric vehicle infrastructure.
UK Power Networks Services director Ian Smyth said: “We are designing, building, operating, maintaining and financing this innovative solution. Our ability to bring these technologies together delivers triple bottom line benefits for the airport, lower cost, greater resilience, and help towards the UK’s decarbonisation agenda.”
