Fraport Secures €8.7 Million in Funding for Emissions-Free Aircraft Ground Power

Fraport is continuing to modernise the ground power infrastructure for parked aircraft at Frankfurt Airport, with new federal funding supporting the deployment of mobile battery-electric Ground Power Units (GPUs) and Pre-Conditioned Air (PCA) systems.

By 2030, all 252 aircraft parking positions at Frankfurt Airport are planned to be connected to the fixed ground power network or equipped with mobile battery-electric GPUs. Fraport is also bringing additional PCA installations into operation to supply pre-conditioned air to parked aircraft.

The two projects are receiving approximately €8.7 million in funding from Germany’s Federal Ministry of Transport under a programme designed to accelerate the adoption of alternative technologies for climate-friendly and environmentally responsible aircraft ground power at airports. The funding programme is coordinated by NOW GmbH, with applications approved by the Federal Agency for Administrative Services.

Battery-electric GPUs to replace diesel technology

Infrastructure constraints mean that it is not possible to equip every aircraft stand with a fixed 400 Hz ground power connection. Battery-electric GPUs will therefore be used at the remaining positions to supply electricity to aircraft systems while aircraft are parked.

Fraport has been awarded €227,000 in federal funding to purchase two additional units. This will bring the total number of battery-electric GPUs operated by Fraport AG to 18. Its procurement plans envisage a fleet of 22 battery-electric units by 2029.

€8.5 million for PCA installations at Terminal 1

A further €8.5 million in funding will support the upgrading of 18 aircraft stands at Pier A of Terminal 1 with PCA systems by 2029. Two stands at the pier are already equipped with the technology.

PCA systems supply pre-conditioned air directly to aircraft passenger cabins, reducing the need to run kerosene-powered auxiliary power units to provide cabin heating and cooling while aircraft are on stand.

Supporting Fraport’s Net Zero target

Fraport aims to achieve Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions across Scopes 1 and 2 at all fully consolidated Group locations worldwide by 2045. An interim target is to reduce CO₂-equivalent emissions at Frankfurt Airport to 50,000 tonnes by 2030.

The modernisation of ground power infrastructure is a key element of the airport operator’s decarbonisation programme, which is supported by a masterplan for environmental protection and climate action containing approximately 2,000 individual measures.

Further information on Fraport’s climate protection and environmental strategy is available on the operator’s Environment and Climate Protection website.