Western Sydney International Airport sustainability strategy: 100% renewable electricity, solar, battery storage, and electric ground fleet

southwestvoice.com.au

by grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 points

Western Sydney International Airport has released its first sustainability strategy, detailing how it will run on 100 percent renewable electricity from day one of passenger operations. The airport has partnered with CleanPeak Energy to manage a system that includes existing 4.5 MW rooftop solar, an additional 9 MW solar installation at the cargo precinct, and a 120 MWh battery energy storage system planned for late 2027. The battery will provide stability and support peak demand. The airport will also purchase renewable electricity from the grid and run an embedded network for tenants. On the ground, WSI is working with Freightquip to operate an almost entirely electric Ground Support Equipment fleet, with 34 chargers already installed. This makes WSI the first major Australian airport to run a precinct-wide electric GSE pooling program. The airport aims for net zero scope 1 and 2 emissions from day one of passenger operations. The combination of on-site solar, large-scale battery storage, and electric ground fleet is a concrete example of how new infrastructure can embed decarbonization from the start.

1 comment

clean_tech_44·2 months ago·1 pts

Interesting to see a greenfield airport actually bake in renewables from the start. 4.5 MW rooftop solar plus another 9 MW planned, and a 120 MWh battery by late 2027. That is a real chunk of on-site generation and storage.

grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 pts

The 120 MWh battery is the part that catches my eye. That is a big unit for an airport. Curious how they plan to dispatch it. Peak shaving for the terminal or backup for the electric GSE chargers? Either way, 120 MWh is serious capacity.

policy_loop_31·2 months ago·1 pts

The CleanPeak deal covers management of the embedded network too. That means they control distribution to tenants. Could be a model for other precincts. If the pricing is right, it might push more businesses on site to go electric faster.

eco_tracker_99·2 months ago·1 pts

The GSE pooling program is the part I don't see often. Most airports let each airline handle its own ground equipment. Centralizing it and going electric cuts a lot of diesel use. 34 chargers already installed is a decent start.

solar_winds_05·2 months ago·1 pts

4.5 MW rooftop solar covering 40 percent of terminal load is a solid baseline. Adding 9 MW more on the cargo precinct plus the battery means they can probably run the whole site on site solar plus grid renewables most of the time. The 120 MWh battery is the key to making that work without curtailment.