The installation of the solar modules is only the first of a series of steps that will lead the Trieste air hub towards net carbon, whose expiration is set for 2027.
Alongside the investment in solar, as is logical to expect, the Trieste Airport company has added that for the 100% electric ground fleet.
In the last two years Trieste Airport has begun to focus heavily on strengthening Trieste airport, also relaunching it in terms of image, with the new ITA Airbuses with customized livery of the FVG Region.
The synergy between the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region and the Municipality of Ronchi dei Legionari has facilitated and supported the installation of the largest airport photovoltaic system in Italy and an adequate energy storage system.
Both operations are part of the Noemix project, which includes the progressive replacement of regional public administration service cars with electric cars.
Trieste Airport declared that from April 2023 (production start date) until next October the photovoltaic + storage system will cover 100% of the airport’s energy needs.
The solar park was built on two distinct areas, optimizing the available space: the first covers the building dedicated to “multi-level car park” of the airport, the second is located in the area “airside” in mode “laying on the ground”.
Numbers in hand, the overall power of the system stands at just over 3 MW (3,143 kW to be precise), flanked by a storage system from 600 kW of power.
The construction cost, to which the FVG Region also contributed, is 3.5 million euros; any surplus production is fed into the grid, becoming a renewable energy asset available to the community.
As anticipated, the almost obligatory step of Trieste Airport was the purchase of a new fleet of ground vehicles (in total 29 vehicles), 100% electric, for handling services.
Marco Consalvo, CEO of Trieste Airport, declared:
The Friuli Venezia Giulia airport aims to significantly and constantly increase international air connections and domestic flight frequencies. This development of connections will go in parallel with the achievement of zero CO2 emissions produced by the airport manager by 2027. Thanks to the new photovoltaic system, already in operation since the end of March, integrated with energy storage batteries and the new totally electric airport vehicles, we are achieving an important and co-existing objective of the decarbonisation process of the reduction. Objective made possible thanks to the constant coordination and support from ENAC and the Region. The primary and distinctive asset of Friuli Venezia Giulia is its almost uncontaminated natural heritage, the challenge is to preserve the territory while making it increasingly accessible.
As anticipated in the first paragraph, the installation of the photovoltaic system and the storage system are only the first steps towards achieving the goal, set for 2027, of net zero at Trieste airport.
The management company plans further investments aimed at improvement of energy efficiencya, through the reduction of heat dispersion, the installation of new air handling units and latest generation heat pumps.
In addition to the contributions from the Region, Trieste Airport was able to count on those made available by ENAC through a public tender (won by the company); the appropriations of the National Civil Aviation Authority they were equal to 2.7 million euros, integrated with 911,600 euros in self-financing by Friuli Venezia Giulia Airport.
Massimiliano Fedriga, president of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, commented:
Currently the Trieste photovoltaic system is the most important in Italy in the airport sector, as well as the largest within the region which already ensures 75% of the airport’s needs.
Pierluigi Di Palma, head of ENAC, added:
The green turning point of Trieste airport is a further step in the process of reconciling air transport with the environment.
