All airside vehicles and equipment at Belfast City Airport are being powered by vegetable oil for the first time.
In another move to reduce its annual carbon vehicle emissions, the airport has introduced hydro-treated vegetable oil (HVO) fuel across 100% of its fleet.
HVO is made almost entirely from used cooking oils and can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90% and air particulates by 85% compared with conventional diesel fuel.
It marks another step forward in the airport’s ongoing sustainability initiatives, which includes the upgrade of main apron lighting to energy-efficient LED systems.
Michael McDowell, airfield operations manager at Belfast City Airport, added: “The transition to HVO fuel for all airside vehicles and equipment means we are not only improving the efficiency of our ground operations, but also addressing the impact that we have on the environment.”
The airport’s environment and sustainability manager Ian Nuttall added: “As a responsible business leader, we are committed to sustainable operations and strives to do all it can to positively impact the environment, the local community, and the economy in which it operates.
“By investing in HVO fuel and LED lighting for our main apron, we are demonstrating our dedication to environmental stewardship and making strides in our pursuit of net zero carbon emissions by 2050, with ambition to achieve this sooner.
“We are committed to paving the way for an industry that not only connects people with places but also safeguards our environment.”
Belfast City Airport has reduced its carbon emissions by 57% since 2017, achieving platinum status in Business in the Community’s environmental benchmarking survey for the fourth consecutive year in 2023.