Bordeaux Airport’s energy-saving plan

Bordeaux Airport is taking part in the national effort to save energy and is acting on its main areas of energy use: heating, air conditioning and lighting. Already committed for several years to energy saving measures to reduce its carbon footprint, the airport joined the national EASEE programme (French Airport Commitment to the Environment and Energy Sobriety) and the international Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) which certifies measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Controlling energy use on the platform

Bordeaux Airport initiated its energy transformation plan in 2018 and concrete actions are already under way to control and reduce the energy use of airport facilities:

• Sustainable building (the new High Quality Environmental standard (HQE) pier) and renovation of existing terminals (enhanced thermal index of the glass facades in Hall B)
• Replacement of obsolete equipment by more modern solutions, such as LED lighting (runway strips, car park and building lighting) or air conditioning
• Electrification of vehicles and power supply to aircraft on the ground, to reduce fossil fuel use

The plan currently being proposed by Bordeaux Airport aims to save 1800 MWh and limit the impacts of rising energy costs, which are set to increase threefold by 2023.

From 19°C....

The temperature will be limited to 19°C in terminals and offices, and 16°C in passageways such as arrival walkways. Reducing setpoint temperature by 1°C enables an energy saving of 7% (source: ADEME).

...to 26°C in terminals and offices

Air conditioning will be activated as of 26°C.

Discontinuation of non-essential lighting

Terminal display screens will be active solely according to operational needs, as will all non-essential lighting features in car parks, runways, roadways and pedestrian walkways. Illuminated displays and Christmas lights will be switched off.

Aiming for carbon neutrality by 2030

The airport presently boasts a 100% green electricity supply. Nevertheless, with 80% of emissions due to heating and electricity, the development of on-site renewable energy represents a milestone on the airport operator’s path to limited CO2 emissions. To reduce the airport’s carbon emissions by 30% within 5 years, Bordeaux Airport is working towards producing its own green energy on site, with solar and geothermal power constituting the natural choice.

February 2023 will see the start of works to shade the P0 car park with solar panels, which will produce 4% of the platform’s energy needs.