The next few years are likely to be challenging for airports worldwide. Net zero ambitions and geopolitical considerations are driving rapid changes in aircraft propulsion and the operation and overall accessibility of airport services. Additionally, climate change is increasing the frequency of extreme weather events, which, in some cases, is impacting airport operations.

These are separate processes, but what unites them is that they are likely to lead to a massive increase in the need for power across an airport’s infrastructure. Estimates vary, but analysis from the World Economic Forum suggests that by 2050, airports’ power requirements will be five to ten times higher than they are today.^[1]

Meeting this is well beyond the reach of simple efficiency gains, and there is a growing awareness that airports need to make extensive infrastructure investments if they are going to be able to keep up with demand, particularly if the extra power needs to be generated in clean ways.

It is also worth noting that some airports, particularly regional airports with a lot of physical space, are already in the process of investigating and even implementing power generation on their estate. Wind turbines are not on the agenda, but racks of solar panels or even small hydrogen generation plants are being installed in some carefully considered locations.