VINCI Airports Triumphs with Eco-Innovation Award at Toulon Hyères Airport

Monday, July 8, 2024

VINCI Airports has achieved a significant milestone by winning ACI’s Eco-Innovation Award for its exceptional environmental performance at Toulon Hyères airport, recognized for its ambitious action plan and achieving net zero emissions.

VINCI Airports has once again demonstrated its leadership in environmental sustainability by winning the Airports Council International (ACI) Eco-Innovation Award for its outstanding efforts at Toulon Hyères airport. This accolade, awarded at the ACI Europe Annual Congress in Istanbul on July 3, 2024, underscores VINCI Airports’ commitment to environmental excellence and its ability to lead the environmental transition at its airports.

Toulon Hyères airport has made history as the first French airport to achieve net zero emissions within its operational scope and one of the first 14 airports worldwide to reach ACA Level 5, the highest level in ACI’s decarbonisation programme. This remarkable achievement highlights the airport’s dedication to reducing its carbon footprint and implementing sustainable practices.

The success of Toulon Hyères airport in achieving net zero emissions is attributed to an ambitious action plan that included a series of impactful measures. From 2018 to 2022, the airport reduced its direct emissions by an impressive 92.5%. This was accomplished through various initiatives such as enhancing energy efficiency, replacing standard lightbulbs with LEDs, installing heat pumps, transitioning to electric runway vehicles, and sourcing certified renewable energy.

In addition to its direct emission reduction efforts, Toulon Hyères has been proactive in working with stakeholders to further decarbonise operations. The airport has introduced sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), adjusted landing fees based on aircraft emissions to encourage the use of newer fleets, installed decarbonised power supplies for aircraft, and built EV charging stands for passengers. These collaborative efforts demonstrate a comprehensive approach to sustainability and environmental responsibility.

One of the most notable steps taken by Toulon Hyères in its sustainability journey is the establishment of a carport-top solar power plant. This plant, capable of producing up to 690 MWh of green electricity annually, supplies 30% of the airport’s electricity needs, with the remainder being fed into the city’s grid. This initiative not only reduces the airport’s reliance on non-renewable energy sources but also contributes to the overall green energy supply of the region.

Nicolas Notebaert, Chief Executive Officer of VINCI Concessions and Chairman of VINCI Airports, expressed his pride in the achievement, stating, “This award brings international recognition to the exemplary job our teams have done at Toulon Hyères to reach net zero emissions in the airport’s own operations and to rally all its stakeholders around its decarbonisation goal. Reconciling the essential need for mobility and the absolute need to cut carbon emissions is our priority at VINCI Airports, and I am proud that our airports are doing that, as we can see at Toulon Hyères today.”

The recognition of Toulon Hyères airport by ACI serves as a testament to VINCI Airports’ ongoing commitment to environmental excellence and sustainability. As the airport continues to innovate and implement green initiatives, it sets a benchmark for other airports worldwide to follow. The collaborative efforts with stakeholders and the continuous drive towards achieving higher levels of sustainability underscore VINCI Airports’ role as a leader in the aviation industry’s environmental transition.

In conclusion, the ACI Eco-Innovation Award for Toulon Hyères is a significant milestone for VINCI Airports, showcasing its dedication to environmental stewardship and sustainable practices. As airports around the world look to reduce their carbon footprints, the achievements of Toulon Hyères stand as a shining example of what can be accomplished through ambition, innovation, and collaboration.

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