This blog was co-authored by Hamed Hassanzadeh Mobarhan (Consultative Service Solution Advisor at Schneider Electric).
Schneider Electric is working with the airport to build an innovative energy management information system (EMIS), delivering the visibility it needs to drive its ambitious decarbonization plans.
Getting to net zero is one of the most urgent challenges facing airports today. Many national and international bodies are focused on reaching it in the next twenty-five years – but some have set even more ambitious goals. While the Canadian Airports Council supports net zero by 2050, for instance, Vancouver International Airport (YVR) has announced a bold target of 2030.
Welcoming more than 25 million passengers each year, YVR is a crucial regional economic hub, providing national and international links for British Columbia. It’s been named the best airport in North America fourteen times in sixteen years. And as its chief executive Tamara Vrooman (who also chairs the Canadian Airports Council), points out, it’s the largest building in the province of British Colombia. To support its activity, the airport manages a complex network of energy infrastructure. A central part of its decarbonization strategy is to increase the use of electric power across its operations.
Achieving this is no simple matter. YVR needs to overhaul the way energy is used for purposes such as its lighting; its heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system; the facilities and businesses at its terminal; and its vehicle fleet. At the same time, it must ensure operational efficiency, maintain reliable services, and support robust safety and cybersecurity.
Developing a holistic view of energy use
The main challenge is effectively communicating the details needed to manage this process holistically. How much electricity will be needed to keep terminal buildings at the right temperature year-round? To charge a new EV fleet? Or for a café to switch from gas to electric ovens? And what’s the best way to implement all of these changes as efficiently as possible? These are the kind of questions that airports with ambitious decarbonization goals need to answer. But they won’t be able to do that unless they understand how they’re using energy today.
YVR had access to some energy-use data, but it was siloed, making it difficult to see the full picture. In 2021, Schneider Electric began working with the airport to address this challenge. Following in-depth discussions with site personnel and an audit of its systems, the company began deploying industry-leading technology to establish an energy management information system (EMIS). This digital platform combines sensors with advanced analytics to provide a unified source of accurate, real-time data which system managers can access through customised dashboards.
This holistic, flexible view allows the airport to use energy efficiently while developing and implementing a practical path to net zero. With a clear view of where and how it is using energy, the site can now take ongoing, strategic steps to upgrade its infrastructure while maintaining it optimally and electrifying a wide range of processes. YVR is now five years into a 10-year partnership with Schneider Electric, focused on maximizing the site’s resilience and performance as it progressively modernizes and digitizes its operations.
A leader in sustainable aviation
The groundbreaking EMIS we’re building will play a central role in the airport’s decarbonization strategy. Deployed using our AVEVA system platform, the ambitious, bespoke project combines a number of different Schneider Electric solutions to support the facility’s net zero goals. Alongside it, we’re also using a wide range of other approaches to support YVR to effectively manage, upgrade and electrify its systems.
Measures such as installing 20,000 LED lights, and the widespread replacement of combustion-powered vehicles with EVs, are already allowing the airport to make substantial progress on its net zero roadmap. We’ve also set up digital monitoring systems to support greater sustainability. They’re allowing the site to identify and address system issues early – enhancing operational efficiency and extending the lifespan of its equipment. And they mean it can adopt predictive and condition-based maintenance schedules – helping reduce outages and planned downtime.
Overall, efficiency projects completed since 2021 are now saving the facility 500 tonnes of CO2e greenhouse gas emissions a year – and between 2022 and 2023 it reduced its operational emissions by 18%. These figures underline how YVR is leading airport decarbonization within Canada and beyond. It’s one of only three facilities in North America awarded the 4+ level for Airport Carbon Accreditation, and has received an honourable mention at Airports Council International’s environmental achievement awards. As we continue to set up and implement the EMIS, the technology will support increasingly more visibility and emissions reduction over time.
Christoph Rufenacht, Vice President of Airport Development and Asset Optimization at YVR, has highlighted how Schneider Electric’s expertise and cutting-edge product portfolio combine to support the airport’s drive to decarbonize.
“Through their EMIS and other solutions, we’re optimizing our energy use and applying predictive analysis to be more proactive in our decision-making,” says Rufenacht, “ultimately enhancing the resilience and reliability of our infrastructure”.
Making net zero a reality
As the importance of cutting emissions grows, many airports are making bold statements on net zero. But announcing a target is one thing; making progress towards it is something entirely different. Facilities that are serious about decarbonization need a reliable framework to guide their efforts. And often, the difficulty isn’t so much about getting the right data as being able to make sense of it. The airports that succeed will be those that can draw on reliable, accurate insights to make informed decisions – supporting immediate improvements while working towards long-term goals.
An effective EMIS is a crucial foundation for this approach. If you want decarbonization that delivers, Schneider Electric can work with you to make it a reality.
Discover more about how Schneider Electric can support your airport net zero journey. Download our eBook: Simplifying the journey to decarbonize airport operations
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