Bristol Airport (BRS) has announced an intention to invest 10 million GBP into a new state of the art energy centre that will, ultimately, see the removal of gas boilers from the terminal.

The Airport was the first in the UK to commit to net zero operations by 2030, and aims to lead by example with the removal of its gas boilers in favour of a new energy storage centre that will produce, store and distribute low carbon energy to heat and cool the main terminal buildings, as well as the terminal extensions.

Swapping gas boilers for air source heat pumps at this scale will involve the implementation of 22 air source heat pumps and 1 electric boiler, saving up to 625 tonnes of  co2e per year – the equivalent of removing 135 passenger vehicles from the road for an entire year, or, the same amount of energy used in 77 homes.

At present, gas comprises 45% of the airport’s scope 1 emissions, which are emissions owned by the Airport, and around 17% of its total operational footprint (scope 1 and 2), which also includes electricity consumed and procured by the Airport.

This is a true milestone for Bristol Airport and is testament to the Airport’s commitment to lowering its carbon footprint.

Decarbonising buildings is one of the three key pillars to achieving net zero operations by 2030, alongside our transition to electric vehicles and investing in renewable energy.

In 2023; Bristol Airport produced a new sustainability strategy, setting itself an interim target for 2027 to reduce carbon emissions by 73% when compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Currently, it already utilises heat pumps in Lulsgate House and Aviation House where staff are based, the Silver Zone car park reception, car rentals building and the air traffic control tower.

The new project, which will commence in the spring, will see pipes laid underground in order to transport energy and connect to the terminal basement. The modularly-designed build will be handled off site and installed near the Hampton by Hilton hotel in the early Autumn, with completion expected before winter.