Cologne Bonn Airport launches forward-looking investment programme for climate-friendly infrastructure

The following article was published by Future Travel Experience

Cologne Bonn Airport is accelerating its sustainability strategy with a €33.25 million investment in electrification, charging infrastructure and renewable energy to drive more efficient, low-emission operations.

Summary:

Cologne Bonn Airport invests €33.25m in five sustainability projects, backed by a €9.75m CINEA grant.
Major push for electrification, with expanded EV charging, e-GPUs and zero-emission ground operations.
Agri-photovoltaics and PCA systems support net zero targets for aprons by 2035 and whole airport by 2045.

Cologne Bonn Airport is actively driving forward the development of climate-friendly infrastructure and the use of renewable energy through a comprehensive package of measures. The airport is investing €33.25 million in five new sustainability projects. These include the further electrification of aircraft handling on the aprons, the large-scale expansion of additional charging stations for electric vehicles, and the procurement of new electrical equipment. For this innovative package of measures, the airport is receiving a record grant of €9.75 million from the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA).

“We are taking ambitious steps towards the future-proof and sustainable development of the airport,” said Thilo Schmid, Chairman of the Management Board of Flughafen Köln/Bonn GmbH. “I am therefore particularly pleased that, with almost €10 million, we will receive the highest funding for our planned investment package. The expansion of modern energy and charging infrastructure, as well as the steadily growing use of zero-emission technology, are making our operations more climate-friendly step by step, whilst at the same time strengthening the performance of our site.”

Chief Operating Officer Cenk Özöztürk explained: “For our airport operations, these measures represent a significant modernisation boost. We are consistently developing our flight operations infrastructure, electrifying key areas and continuously integrating renewable energies. In this way, we are laying the foundations to ensure that the processes on our aprons consistently contribute to our sustainability goals.”

Five key measures are being implemented at Cologne Bonn Airport: 38 additional charging points for electric vehicles and electrically powered equipment are being installed on the aprons. This project also includes the installation and expansion of transformers. The second measure involves the creation of 86 further new charging stations for e-mobility across the rest of the airport grounds. In addition, extra charging points for electric buses are being installed.

The third project involves integrating two planned agri-photovoltaic systems into the airport’s power grid. Furthermore, a total of 16 Pre-Conditioned Air (PCA) systems will be installed at the two terminals to heat or cool aircraft at their parking positions while the auxiliary power units are switched off. As part of the fifth measure, 15 further electric ground power units (E-GPU) will be procured to replace conventional diesel generators.

Together, these measures reinforce the airport’s ongoing comprehensive sustainability activities. The overarching goal is to completely reduce its own emissions and achieve net zero carbon. This is to be achieved by 2035 for the aprons and by 2045 for the entire airport.