Making the environmental transition a success

An ambition shared by all airports operated by VINCI Airports

The airport sector is confronted with the environmental challenge, to which it must respond in a responsible manner. Fully aware of the situation, VINCI Airports is facing up to this challenge and was the first airport operator in 2016 to adopt an international environmental strategy in order to reach net zero emissions for the entire network by 2050.

By doing so, VINCI Airports placed the environmental transition at the heart of its strategic priorities. We maintained this approach in recent years, including in 2020 and despite the pandemic, when we continued to invest in the environmental transition. All airports in our network are working in line with a specific roadmap that covers the reduction of carbon emissions, the protection of biodiversity and natural areas, and the control of natural resources. Striving for environmental excellence is a key challenge for aviation and airports; all those involved in the industry already play a central role in this transformation.

Our low-carbon strategy is based on three priorities:

  • leading the way in emission reduction through measures for energy efficiency and the use of renewables;
  • looking beyond our own activities and helping our stakeholders (transporters, travellers and more) reduce their carbon footprint;
  • supporting regions in their energy transition.

“To tackle the climate emergency, we must implement and step up the pace of all initiatives able to reduce the quantity of CO2 in the atmosphere.”
Joffrey Maï, Environment and sustainable development Director at VINCI Concessions


Making the environmental transition a success

By launching its environmental strategy in 2015, the first of its kind in the airport sector, VINCI Airports placed the environmental transition at the heart of its strategic priorities. We maintained this approach in recent years, including in 2020, when we continued to invest in the environmental transition during the pandemic COVID-19. All of the airports in the network are working in line with a specific roadmap that covers the protection of biodiversity and natural areas, control of water consumption, waste recycling, electricity consumption reduction and renewable energy usage. Striving for environmental excellence is a key challenge for aviation and airports; all those involved in the industry already play a central role in this transformation.


Taking action on the field

 

  • Implementation of LED lighting technologies

We are committed to increase our energy efficiency by using state-of-the-art lighting technologies. Therefore, we install LED lamps for the lighting of all our airports.
At the beginning of the year 2021 for instance, Cambodia Airports completed large-scale relamping works. LED lights were installed to enlighten the 3,300-meter runway of Sihanouk International Airport. This helps reduce electricity consumption and therefore the carbon footprint of the airport significantly.
 

  • Switch to renewable energy

We are developing our expertise in turnkey solar solutions, which we are both harnessing for our own infrastructure and providing to companies and local authorities. We are therefore working on a growing number of new solar projects in Portugal, Serbia and, soon, Stockholm and Lyon.
 

  • Electrifying our fleets and facilitating the use of electric vehicles.

In this long journey of decarbonation, were we also want to be an ispiration to others, we opt for electric mobility and electrify our company and service vehicles. Thus, London Gatwick airport put in place a fleet of electric airport shuttle cars and offers a car sharing station with a 100% percent electric vehicle fleet. Furthermore, easily accessible charging stations were implemented, so that drivers of electric vehicles can easily charge them during their stay at the airport. In the Dominican Republic, Aerodom took up this spirit towards more sustainable mobility by also installing charging stations for EVs at Santo Domingo airport.
 

  • Engaging in the development and supply of Sustainable Aviation Fuel at our airports.

The use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) represents an important step towards decarbonizing aviation. Thus, London Gatwick airport introduced SAF in October 2021. The first flights using a blend of 30% biofuels took off to connect London Gatwick with Glasgow throughout COP26. For the 42 flights, the CO2 emissions on this route are reduced by 70 tonnes.
 

  • Implementation of carbon sinks to sequester residual emissions of our airports.

At Lyon airports, we aim to achieve carbon neutrality already by 2026. Thus, in June 2021, we inaugurated our first carbon sink right here.
A local reforestation program aiming to restore, reforest and maintain a 3.6-hectare plot of forest was set up to sequester a total of 500 tons of CO2 emissions in 2026. This amount represents the total residual direct emissions of the airport (Scope 1 & 2).
Following the successful implementation, we already plan to launch the next carbon sinks capitalizing on the great forestry potential worldwide.
 

  • Implementation of carbon sinks to sequester residual emissions of our airports.

The use of clean hydrogen will play a major role to create the airports of the future.
This is why we combined forces with AirLiquide, TotalEnergies and other large international companies to launch the world’s largest fund exclusively dedicated to clean hydrogen infrastructure solutions. In October 2021, the fund has already secured initial commitments of 800 million euros out of a target of around 1.5 billion euros. As one of the three initiators of the fund, we pledged to invest 100 million euros. This fund represents our strong commitment to driving transformation towards the use of clean hydrogen within our airport network.