Analyst Insight: Transport Buildings in a Decarbonized Future

This Analyst Insight focuses on the nexus of the world of carbon capture and storage and airports as part of a broader discussion on the decarbonization of transport buildings. An August 2022 report by Cranfield University, UK, entitled “The Viability of Carbon Capture at Airports Using Innovative Approaches,” is the main point of departure.

Decarbonizing the aviation industry has been a priority amid the energy transition. For example, the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) is set to become an international mandatory compliance carbon offset and reduction plan in 2027. Major airline companies are now forward-buying or pre-purchasing direct air capture (DAC) credits as part of their decarbonization endeavors. But what about airports themselves? Looking at Aberdeen Airport in Scotland, Indira Gandhi International Airport in India, San Francisco International Airport in the US, and London Luton Airport  in the UK, researchers at Cranfield University recorded CO₂ emissions up to 100 kilo tonnes per annum through various sources of emissions such as power generation and ground operations. Combining DAC engineered carbon removals with green hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) could help airports advance their net-zero ambitions. In terms of building stock, estimates are that current carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) engineering methods could require up to 2.5km² (~0.97mi²) of space at airports.