Brussels Airport Company, the administrative entity of Brussels Airport, has announced plans to replace its central heating facility with a zero-carbon emissions system. The new facility is expected to be operational by early 2027 and will emit no carbon dioxide.
Although the current central heating facility has undergone several optimizations to reduce natural gas consumption, the administrative entity has decided to take the innovative step of completely replacing it. The new system will not utilize natural gas, thereby reducing the airport’s total carbon emissions by 70% and bringing it closer to its carbon neutrality goal for 2050.
Brussels Airport Company embarked on its path towards carbon neutrality in 2018. All its buildings, infrastructure, commercial activities, and vehicle fleet already rely on green energy.
Paving the Way for Carbon-Neutral Aviation
Presently, the buildings surrounding the terminal at the airport are centrally heated using a gas boiler. This heating facility supplies energy to the passenger terminal, piers, and various buildings in the vicinity of the terminal. The central heating system has already been modernized multiple times to be more environmentally friendly. Two large cogeneration systems, which are significantly more efficient and also produce electricity, have been installed. However, the boiler still emits carbon dioxide.
To eliminate carbon emissions from the heating system, Brussels Airport Company has decided to install a new system that does not rely on gas, ensuring carbon neutrality.
«This new heating facility is a significant step towards our ambition as an airport operator to achieve net-zero carbon emissions. This gas-free installation will allow us to reduce our carbon emissions by approximately 70%. It is also a pioneering investment in Belgium, as no installation of this scale (with a total capacity of 21 megawatts) has ever been built in our country,» said Arnaud Feist, CEO of Brussels Airport Company.
The project is currently in the tendering process, and a call has been made for interested bidders to replace the heating system. The aim is to commence construction in 2025 and have the new facilities operational by early 2027.
