The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) announced that it has launched a research project to improve Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) supply and infrastructure at Copenhagen Airport (CPH).
According to EASA, there are two key barriers to increasing usage of SAF at such a major airport, namely the supply of the alternative fuel and the logistics to handle SAF at the location.
“A wide range of delivery aspects will be handled in ALIGHT leading to a continuous supply to the airport,” the regulator said. “The goal is to create solutions that will meet the demands of the airport and end users in terms of climate, economy and supply.”
The regulator highlighted four objectives of the project:
- Creating optimal conditions for the supply of SAF to CPH
- Assessing new propellant options for the next-generation aircraft stand
- Using SAF at CPH with cost-effectiveness in mind
- Continue monitoring greenhouse gas (GHG) and other emissions’ reductions and ensure best sustainability practices are utilized
EASA claimed that ALIGHT will “demonstrate an innovative concept for fueling infrastructure, logistics and blending operations”.
CPH serves the Danish capital and welcomed 22.1 million passengers in 2022. During the first six months of 2023, the airport saw 12.3 million passengers cross its gates, compared to 14.4 million in the H1 2019.
According to the airport’s 2022 result announcement, one of the framework conditions highlighted by CPH management as having to “fall into place in 2023” is a new planning act. The act includes provisions to “free up an area within the existing land area to develop the airport, including building modern stands for new types of aircraft that produce lower CO2 emissions and less noise”.
“Maintaining our position as an important hub in northern Europe requires reasonable framework conditions and the means to invest, so that CPH remains attractive to airlines and passengers. Otherwise, Denmark will lose ground to neighbouring countries,” Thomas Woldbye, the chief executive officer of CPH, said at the time.