Airport News
Brussels Airport launched a green mobility trial project at the end of May to try and encourage the use of electric vehicles. In collaboration with specialist technology companies Bluecorner and ThePlugInCompany, two charging stations will be put at the disposal of airport visitors. They will be located on the departures curb, in front of the entrance to the Sheraton hotel. Visitors who wish to charge their battery can do so free of charge.
“This trial project aims to be more than a free service for users of electric and hybrid cars,” said Arnaud Feist, CEO of Brussels Airport. “In the first place we wish to acquire both technological and economical experience. We are testing the various aspects of installing and using charging stations to provide our passengers with electricity for their car. Before checking in, passengers can leave their car at one of our car parks to find their car fully charged on their return. Smart Grid applications will help us to deal rationally with our own electricity consumption by allowing us to charge parked electric vehicles outside of peak electricity hours.”
This initiative fits in with the project ‘Experimental Garden for Electric Mobility’, launched by Flemish Minister for Innovation Ingrid Lieten, which encourages the exchange of experience and the collaboration between parties with regard to green mobility.
As part of this initiative, Brussels Airport is also launching a trial project with an electric car, in collaboration with Opel Belgium. Over a period of six months the airport will be gathering experience on the possibilities of this new technology for its own fleet of company cars and service vehicles.
The airport feels very strongly about the use of green energy and the reduction of carbon emissions. For several years now, Brussels Airport uses 100% green electricity. The end of 2011 saw the opening of a first solar park at the airport. A second solar park is to be opened by the end of this year. These parks will supply 3% of the annual energy consumption at the airport. Brussels Airport was the first airport in the world to obtain the ISO 50001 energy management certificate. Brussels Airport is also making significant efforts to reduce its carbon emissions. The airport aims for a 20% reduction in eight years’ time.
