Malta International Airport is implementing a €12.5 million investment in a major Airfield Electrification Programme aimed at avoiding carbon dioxide emissions and accelerating the airport’s transition towards cleaner operations.The initiative is expected to eliminate approximately 1,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually and is scheduled for completion by 2028- ahead of the deadline established under the European Union’s Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) for airports within the Trans-European Transport Network.“This investment forms part of a broader roadmap through which we will continue to deploy low-emission technologies and expand the use of solar power,” said Justine Baldacchino, Head of Sustainability and Analytics at Malta International Airport. “By embarking on our most ambitious project yet, we are reaffirming our commitment to addressing Scope 3 emissions, while contributing to Malta’s climate targets and the wider European airport industry’s decarbonisation efforts.”As part of the programme 35 hatch-pit systems will enable parked aircraft to connect directly to a provision of electricity during ground operations. This will remove the need for diesel-powered Ground Power Units (GPUs), significantly reducing emissions.In areas where hatch-pit systems cannot be installed due to technical constraints, the airport will deploy mobile battery-powered GPUs supported by dedicated charging infrastructure, including 20 charging points. The project also includes the installation of 15 electric bus charging stations to support ground handling operators transitioning to cleaner vehicle fleets.The programme also involves a substantial upgrade of the airport’s electrical infrastructure. This includes the installation of five medium-voltage substations, two generators and a new electrical network with a peak installed capacity of 7.5 MVA. Integration with Malta’s national grid, in collaboration with the island’s electricity service provider, will ensure long-term operational stability and reliability.The project is being co-financed by the European Union through a €5.4 million grant awarded under the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF), a funding mechanism within the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).AFIF supports the decarbonisation of Europe’s transport sector and contributes to the European Union’s goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050.What do you make of this?•