Climate protection strategy: goals and cooperation
CO₂ emissions: net zero by 2035
By 2035 at the latest, Munich Airport’s operations should no longer release CO₂ into the atmosphere. Net zero entails reducing the emissions that we can influence ourselves by at least 90 percent. The remaining maximum of ten percent will be actively and permanently removed from the atmosphere with suitable projects. The net zero target comprises four areas:
In terms of our energy supply, we are focusing on the use of gas from renewable sources for the airport’s own block heat and power plant, the expansion of photovoltaic systems, the purchase of renewable electricity, and the development of an additional electricity grid to ensure a sufficient supply of green electricity in the future.
With regard to the airport’s technical facilities, the lighting on the runways is also to be replaced following the conversion of the entire apron lighting to LED technology. Other measures are also being taken, such as the use of more energy-efficient baggage handling systems and passenger boarding bridges.
We build new buildings in a sustainable and climate-friendly way with low energy consumption. Our existing buildings are being optimized for energy efficiency. To achieve this, efficient ventilation technology and lighting as well as optimized control of the air conditioning and heating systems are planned.
Lastly, in the area of mobility, we will convert our vehicle pool to vehicles with electric drives or use alternative fuels.
The remaining emissions must be actively and permanently removed from the atmosphere. For this purpose, we have already started converting a conventional commercial forest into a resilient climate forest in 2021. As a result, additional CO₂ is absorbed from the atmosphere, which remains stored in the long term even if the wood is removed. Other suitable projects are currently being reviewed, such as the rewetting of moors, the formation of humus in agriculture, or suitable systems for filtering and storing CO₂ (Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage – DACCS).
NetZero
Sustainable flying: together for the future
A major part of the «Fit-for-55» package of directives within the European Green Deal is «ReFuelEU Aviation». The aim is to increase the use of «sustainable aviation fuels» (SAFs) and ensure a level playing field throughout the EU aviation market. In October 2023, Lufthansa, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Airbus, MTU Aero Engines, and Munich Airport signed a letter of intent for a research cooperation on power-to-liquid (PtL) aviation fuels. The planned cooperation is intended to combine the strengths of leading aviation companies and science in order to accelerate the technology selection, market launch, and industrial scaling of PtL aviation fuels in Germany. Since 2021, sustainable aviation fuels have been able to be delivered to, stored at, and refueled at Munich Airport.