Client

London City Airport is undergoing a £500 million development programme that will transform the airport and the customer experience, accommodating for a huge increase in demand to use London’s most central airport. The investment includes a new passenger terminal extension - creating facilities four times the size of today’s terminal - eight aircraft stands and a parallel taxiway. The airport is also introducing a digital air traffic control tower in early 2020, which will be a global first for an airport of this size. A priority for London City Airport is to deliver this growth sustainably.

Challenge

We were engaged by London City Airport to assist in the development of an energy strategy and implementation roadmap. The study was focused around London City Airport’s energy infrastructure requirements and technology options, and included recommendations on the asset investments that are required to enable long term growth and reduction of operating cost.

Approach and innovation

We examined technologies including combined heat and power generation, solar PV generation, water-source heat pumps, electric energy storage and thermal energy storage. Different scenarios were modelled technically and financially to determine the optimum size and combination of technologies for the airport to meet its energy demand, reduce energy costs and decrease carbon emissions. Based on the results of the model, an electric vehicle strategy and implementation roadmap was also developed.

Outcome

Our study identified opportunities to improve network resilience whilst providing commercial and technical benefits to the airport.

We are also supporting the City Airport Development Programme (CADP) where we will deliver a microgrid that combines solar Photo Voltaic, combined heat and power, and smart automation software to double the size of the airport’s electrical distribution infrastructure.

The upgrade will almost double the airport’s electricity capacity. The electricity network will also be ‘smart’ thanks in part to a new SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) system that will remotely control the electricity network. The fully integrated solution will enhance the security and resilience of the network, reduce the cost of infrastructure and improve air quality around the airport - while decarbonising in line with London City Airport’s commitments.