Fraport has taken another step closer to the realisation of its Net Zero Master Plan with the modernisation of its ground power supply for parked aircraft.
The operator has pledged to connect all 252 parking positions at Frankfurt Airport to a ground power grid or, alternatively, equip them with mobile battery-electric ground power units (GPUs) by 2030.
Additionally, Fraport has commissioned extra systems that provide pre-conditioned cabin air (PCA).
Both projects have received 8.7 million EUR funding from the Federal Ministry of Transport as part of a funding programme for the market activation of alternative technologies for the climate-friendly and environmentally sound supply of ground power to aircraft at airports (Ground Power Directive).
The funding directive, which is coordinated by NOW GmbH, will see applications approved by the Federal Office for Administrative Services.
Fraport has stated that, due to existing infrastructure limitations, it will not be possible to equip all aircraft parking positions with a stationary 400 Hz power connection. These remaining aircraft parking positions will be powered exclusively by battery-powered ground power generators (GPUs) in the future, and they will supply the onboard systems of parked aircraft.
The company is set to receive 227,000 EUR in funding from the Federal Ministry for the purchase of two such generators – an acquisition that will see the number of battery-electric GPUs operated by Fraport AG increase to a total of 18, with a procurement plan calling for the possession of a total of 22 battery-electric GPUs by 2029.
Meanwhile, 8.5 million EUR will be invested in upgrading eighteen passenger gates at Concourse A of Terminal 1 with PCA (Passenger Compressor Air Conditioning) systems by 2029. These systems, which pump pre-conditioned air into the passenger cabin, aim to eliminate the need for kerosene-powered auxiliary engines for cabin air conditioning, with two existing gate positions already possessing PCA technology.
Fraport has re-affirmed its aim to achieve net zero status in Scopes 1 and 2 at all fully consolidated Group locations worldwide by 2045 at the latest, and to reduce CO₂e emissions at Frankfurt Airport to 50,000 tons by 2030.
