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Brisbane Airport has switched entirely to renewable-backed power, becoming one of the first airports in Australia to achieve net zero on Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
The airport made the switch on New Year’s Day, buying 100 per cent Queensland-based wind and solar energy generation from Stanwell in a deal first signed in 2022.
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“From midnight [on 1 January] our renewable power purchase agreement kicked in with Stanwell, providing up to 185 GWh of renewable backed wind and solar energy per year from regional Queensland. This is a milestone moment,” airport CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff said.
“It means renewable backed power will operate everything from the systems you use at check-in, baggage conveyors, air conditioning, departure screens, escalators, electric ground services equipment, right through to the runway lights that guide your aircraft safely into the sky.”
Brisbane Airport has reduced its emissions by 97 per cent through a combination of the Stanwell deal, expansion of on-site solar to 10Mw, and the replacement of 24 internal combustion engine vehicles with electric vehicles, and says the remaining three per cent has been offset through native bush regeneration projects.
According to de Graaff, there is still more work to be done to cut the airport’s carbon footprint.
“We know the most significant source of emissions comes from aviation fuel used by our airline partners,” he said.
“It’s why we continue to represent all airports on the Australian Jet Zero Council, and support research undertaken at Brisbane Airport by Stralis which is developing a hydrogen-electric aircraft, with a test-flight planned for this year.”
Brisbane joined two Queensland Airports Limited sites, Gold Coast and Townsville Airports, in making the switch to all renewable power on New Year’s Day, which followed Cairns Airport in March last year also pledging to switch to 100 per cent renewables from early 2025.
Adelaide Airport also reached carbon neutrality in December, with its CEO Brenton Cox announcing an agreement to purchase certified Australian Carbon Credit Units from a land regeneration project in SA’s Gawler Ranges following several years of other mitigation efforts.
“Our strategy has focused on seeking to reduce carbon intensity through upgrading to more efficient alternatives, increasing onsite renewable energy generation, and supporting renewable energy projects in South Australia through the airport’s electricity contract,” Cox said.
“Adelaide Airport is targeting a 100 per cent reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 and achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
“We are pleased to have achieved our Scope 1 and 2 target ahead of our 2030 timeframe but there is still a long way to go to achieve our net zero ambitions, which includes emissions from flights to and from Adelaide.”
