Energy Transition, Biodiversity and Eco-Responsibility: Bordeaux Airport Environmental News
- The €8 million programme of investment on the environment at Bordeaux Airport in its resilience and recovery plan is enabling the airport operator to pursue its engagements.
With the award of its first certificate under the European Airport Carbon Accreditation scheme by Airport Council International Europe, Bordeaux Airport is continuing its efforts to become carbon neutral by 2030, and numerous actions are also underway for biodiversity, water and waste.
With the commitment of Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport SA(1) to the resilience and recovery plan, approved by its Supervisory Board in late 2020, projects related to various aspects of its environmental strategy are making good progress at Bordeaux Airport.
Target: Carbon Neutrality by 2030
Following the recent award of its first European Airport Carbon Accreditation certificate, with the support of the French Airport Commitment to the Environment and Energy Sobriety (EASEE),(2) the airport is currently working towards the next accreditation steps to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. In the wake of the recent expansion of the ‘400Hertz’ floor power supply for Hall A aircraft, to reduce fossil fuel use, the implementation of further energy solutions is focused on infrastructures in 2021. In addition to the High Environmental Quality of the new Satellite 3 in Hall A, which is due to open in the near future, operations are underway for the roll-out of the energy metering plan in Hall A, the solar glazing of Hall B facades, both air-side and land-side, or the installation of solar panel roofs at the entrance to car park P0, following similar installations in car parks P1/P2.
Numerous Environmental Projects for Biodiversity, Water and Waste at Bordeaux Airport
The Airport Operator is also focusing its actions on preserving and fostering the biodiversity of the site. The greening of the car parks, which began in 2020, is being followed by that of the new forecourt, under development prior to the arrival of the tram in 2022, with a ‘zero chemical treatment’ requirement within the perimeter of the concession. In a secluded area rich in a wide variety of flora and water resources, the foundations of an airport beehive for some 150,000 bees were laid in May.
With an initial million litres of water saved in 2019 thanks to the installation of waterless urinals in public toilets, the aim for the coming years is to save 5 million litres annually, via the extension of these facilities, the roll-out of other flow limiting systems and the recovery of rain water or that used for airport fire-fighting exercises, as of 2021.
Lastly, with the upcoming overhaul of waste sorting and collection systems for professionals and the public, the airport is aiming for a 30% increase in recycled matter.
- (1) At the heart of airport structure and in close collaboration with all public and private operators, Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport SA oversees the management, maintenance, operation and development of the platform in the framework of a concession granted by the French Government. It also designs and implements a strategy that aims to add value to the airport with and for the region and its economic, social and environmental objectives, via a mission statement established in 2019: * To provide the best service via a development strategy attentive to its environmental impact and built around a socially responsible policy, in collaboration with the regions.
A Company with a Supervisory Board and Management Board, its shareholders include the French State (60%), Bordeaux-Gironde Chamber of Commerce (25%) and local authorities: the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional Council, Gironde Council, Bordeaux Metropolitan Authority and the municipalities of Bordeaux and Mérignac (15%).
*PACTE Law of 22 May 2019 (Action Plan for the Development and Transformation of Businesses). - (2) Engagements des Aéroports pour la Sobriété Energétique et l’Environnement. [Airport Commitment to the Environment and Energy Sobriety]
This article was originally published by Bordeaux-Merignac Airport.
