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Airport Power Resilience: Microgrids Take Center Stage Amidst Rising Outages
Following a recent power disruption that crippled London’s Heathrow Airport, spotlighting vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure, the aviation industry is increasingly examining solutions for airport power resilience. Christina Cassotis, CEO of Pittsburgh International Airport, reflecting on the Heathrow incident, considered the frantic efforts to manage the ensuing chaos. However, for her own airport, the response to power disturbances is markedly different: maintain composure and continue operations. Pittsburgh International Airport has operated for nearly four years leveraging a self-sufficient system of on-site natural gas generators and solar panels. This independent power system, a microgrid, has reportedly yielded approximately $1 million in annual energy savings, positioning the traditional power grid as merely a contingency, according to Cassotis. This proactive approach highlights the growing importance of energy resilience and sustainability in airport operations.
Pittsburgh Airport: A Microgrid Success Story
“Our motivation was to achieve both resiliency and redundancy,” Cassotis stated. “Airports represent vital transportation infrastructure. Our operational capability should remain unaffected, irrespective of external circumstances.” This degree of energy independence remains uncommon, particularly among major airports. While many airports incorporate backup generators to sustain essential services like air traffic control and lighting during power losses, these conventional emergency measures have limitations. Extended outages necessitate refueling, underscoring the reliance of most airports on external power sources to maintain passenger and aircraft flow.
The Rise of On-Site Power Generation
Across the United States, airports are progressively exploring on-site electricity generation and storage, predominantly through solar power and battery systems. This shift aims to curtail carbon emissions, anticipate future electricity demands, and mitigate escalating disruptions caused by climate change and aging national infrastructure. Denver International Airport, while equipped with multiple grid connections for redundancy, has recently implemented a solar-powered battery storage system to guarantee the uninterrupted operation of its underground train system during emergencies. New York’s Kennedy International Airport, undergoing a substantial $19 billion renovation, plans to integrate extensive solar panel arrays and battery storage to diminish emissions and ensure the operational continuity of its new Terminal 1, slated to open in 2026, during power failures. Such outages can inflict significant disruptions and financial burdens on airports and their users.
Economic Benefits of Airport Microgrids
Joey Cathcart, a sustainable aviation expert at RMI, a Colorado-based sustainability nonprofit, emphasizes the broader impact of airport resilience. “A dependable, efficient airport contributes to regional economic resilience,” he asserted. Cathcart and his RMI colleagues have contributed to a federally funded guide designed to assist airports in developing microgrids akin to Pittsburgh’s.
Frequency of Power Outages and Climate Change
Power outages at airports occur more frequently than desired. A 2023 Government Accountability Office report documented 321 outages, each lasting at least five minutes, across two dozen U.S. airports between 2015 and 2022. Furthermore, airports and broader infrastructure are increasingly vulnerable to natural disasters, many exacerbated by climate change. The National Centers for Environmental Information reports a steady increase in billion-dollar weather disasters, jumping from five in 2000 to 27 last year, underscoring the escalating threat to infrastructure resilience.
Atlanta Outage Spurs Action in Pittsburgh
A 2017 electrical fire triggered a power outage at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, causing nationwide flight disruptions and tens of millions of dollars in losses for Delta Air Lines, a major carrier at the airport. This incident, along with others, prompted Cassotis to investigate microgrid solutions for Pittsburgh. “We initiated an exploratory process,” she recounted, “to assess the feasibility of implementing a microgrid.”
Pittsburgh’s Microgrid Implementation and Operation
Benefitting from natural gas deposits from the Marcellus Shale beneath its grounds, Pittsburgh International Airport solicited bids to design, construct, and operate a microgrid without upfront costs to the airport. By July 2021, the microgrid became operational. It currently generates 23 megawatts of power: three from a solar array situated atop a former landfill and the remainder from five natural gas generators. With peak airport demand at roughly 14 megawatts, the airport, which served nearly 10 million passengers in the past year, sells surplus power back to the grid.
Financial and Operational Advantages of Pittsburgh’s Microgrid
The microgrid, owned by two energy firms, has proven financially beneficial for the airport through secured low electricity rates and a reduction in carbon emissions exceeding six million pounds annually, according to Cassotis. Critically, it has shielded the airport from operational interruptions. The Heathrow shutdown on March 21st caused widespread global travel chaos, resulting in over 1,000 flight cancellations and passenger displacement. Originating from a substation fire, a similar incident occurred near Pittsburgh’s airport weeks prior. Substations fires disrupted power feeds; however, Pittsburgh airport preemptively disconnected these feeds, safeguarding its microgrid and maintaining normal operations.
Value Beyond Financial Savings
“The financial savings are substantial and quantifiable,” Cassotis noted. “Beyond that, there’s an invaluable peace of mind derived from enhanced resilience.”
Sustainability as a Driving Factor
Resilience constitutes only one of the advantages driving airports toward on-site power generation and storage. Aviation contributes 2-3% to global emissions and presents unique decarbonization challenges given the limited availability of emission-free alternatives to jet fuel. Deploying solar panel installations, exemplified by Denver and JFK airports, can significantly reduce an airport’s carbon footprint. These systems also address escalating energy needs as airport vehicles, shuttles, rental fleets, and eventually, smaller aircraft transition to electric power.
Redundant Power Systems at Denver International Airport
Denver’s airport benefits from two dedicated electric substations, each capable of powering the entire facility, providing intrinsic emergency redundancy, according to Scott Morrissey, Senior Vice President of Sustainability at the airport. In addition, backup generators are in place. “As we electrify various airport operations, ensuring a dependable and resilient electricity supply becomes paramount,” Morrissey emphasized.
JFK’s Integrated Sustainability and Resilience Approach
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey prioritizes both sustainability and resilience across its airport network, including JFK. While Kennedy already possesses redundant power sources and generators, Terminal 1’s redevelopment incorporates an extensive array of rooftop solar panels, fuel cells, and batteries. Jessica Forse, the project manager overseeing the airport overhaul, including Terminal 1, stated, “Avoiding operational disruptions offers clear advantages for business continuity. Disruptions at major international hubs like Heathrow or JFK have far-reaching consequences across global airspace.”
Growing Interest and FAA Support for Airport Microgrids
Presently, large-scale projects remain limited, but interest is accelerating. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provides grants to airports exploring these options. Airport executives are increasingly seeking guidance from pioneers like Cassotis who adopted solar panels and microgrids early on. Lauren Shwisberg, leading research on low-carbon electricity transitions at RMI, observes, “As the market evolves, a diverse range of solutions is emerging to suit airports of varying types and sizes.”