In the next three years, Riga Airport and the Lithuanian airport company "Lietuvos oro uostai" will upgrade the electrical supply systems of their aerodromes by attracting European Union funding in the amount of 3.65 million euros in a joint project.
Laila Odiņa, chairperson of the board of Riga Airport says: "The goals of airport climate neutrality and environmental sustainability are to significantly reduce the environmental impact of all airport-controlled work processes and in cooperation with other service providers at the airport. The modernization of the electrical supply system and the availability of renewable energy resources is an important step to achieve climate neutrality of the airport by 2050 in accordance with the EU's Green Deal and the common goals of the EU's climate neutrality, as well as the ACI Europe "Net Zero 2050" initiative, which we have joined. We are happy to implement this project as a leading partner together with our closest neighbors – the Lithuanian airports."
The electrical supply infrastructure modernization project at Riga Airport provides for the reconstruction of the electrical network from the current 10-kilovolt to a 20-kilovolt network, and the installation of a solar panel park on the roofs of several airport buildings to generate renewable energy. The construction of electric charging points on the apron and technical area of the aerodrome is necessary to replace the part of the internal combustion vehicles used by the airport with electric vehicles by 2027, and to ensure the availability of renewable resources for charging electric vehicles for both the airport and other passenger service companies working at the airport.
Arnas Dumanas, director of the development department at Lithuanian Airports: "This funding opportunity will allow us to develop electric vehicle charging infrastructure at various parts of Kaunas and Vilnius airports. In parallel, we will invest in ground power units specifically designed for aircraft. These are very important steps that will bring the organization closer to the ambitious goals of Net Zero strategy."
The project "Establishment of Electricity Supply and Charging Infrastructure in the Baltic States’ Airports in North Sea-Baltic CNC/TEN-T Corridor for the Transition to Environmentally Friendly Operations" will be implemented by Riga Airport in cooperation with Lithuanian airports. The total co-financing of the EU fund program "CEF 2 Transport – Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility – Zero Emissions" for the project is 3,65 million euros or 50 % of the total costs of the project. 1,79 million euros have been allocated to Riga Airport, and 1,85 million euros to " Lietuvos oro uostai", and the companies will have to invest the same amount themselves.
Representatives of PwC were also involved as consultants in the preparation and finalizing the project.
