Commercial, Distributed Energy Resources, Energy Efficiency, GHG Emissions  -  May 6, 2024

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol Electrifies Operations

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol lowered carbon emissions by electrifying its ground operations by phasing out diesel ground power units that currently supply electrical power to aircraft while parked at airport gates. 

The airport installed Electric Ground Power Units (E-GPUs) by ESS Tech, Inc., a manufacturer of long-duration energy storage (LDES) systems for commercial and utility-scale applications. 

The electrification of ground operations will lower both carbon emissions and air pollution and support the Royal Schiphol Group’s ambitious climate targets. The project is supported by the TULIPS consortium, an EU-funded consortium of airports across Europe seeking to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy within Europe’s aviation sector.

“Schiphol intends to be a zero-emission airport by 2030 across our buildings, assets and equipment,” said Oscar Maan, Royal Schiphol Group manager of innovation, in a statement. “Cutting edge, clean technology such as ESS’ iron flow battery system enables us to decarbonize ground operations and is a vital step for us to progress towards this sustainable future. As leaders of the TULIPS consortium, we hope this project demonstrates how clean technology can be implemented in the aviation industry throughout Europe.”

The project will demonstrate how LDES can enable the electrification of ground support equipment, such as the E-GPUs, while reducing the need to upgrade regional grid infrastructure. ESS’s iron flow technology provides cost-effective LDES ideal for applications that require up to 12 hours of flexible energy capacity.