The practical reality at present is that the expansion of electrification of airports has been slow to gain momentum. Many small steps have been taken, but the requirements for the big steps are still coalescing. The smart play is to actively wait and monitor developments as new technologies emerge and gradually become more commonplace.
The key to this approach, however, is to begin developing comprehensive plans to support future electrification. This would include steps such as upgrading aged equipment in anticipation of near-term electrification projects. In addition, those plans should include consideration for how expectations will change regarding resiliency requirements. At first, electrification efforts may utilize fossil-fueled equipment during power outages, but over the longer run, the transition toward full electrification will compel greater prioritization for having highly resilient power.
EVs and eGSE do not need to charge all the time, and if the power goes out, they can continue to operate as long as they retain a charge. The question becomes how long it will be before the power is restored. If it’s only an hour or two, that may barely cause a hiccup in operations. If it’s a day or more, that becomes a much bigger problem.
As every function and activity at the airport becomes dependent on electricity, backup power sources and energy storage will become critical to operations. Where many airports are currently content with individual generators and similar resources, demand will eventually reach the tipping point to force investment in larger-scale backup power infrastructure. Unlike traditional diesel generators, battery energy storage can also help the airport manage its demand — not only reducing upfront capital costs but also avoiding high utility demand charges.
Ideally, making such decisions is part of long-term master planning, but it is also being considered on an ad hoc basis at this relatively early stage of electrification. Effectively serving as landlords, airport operators need to satisfy their tenants’ requirements, but they also don’t want to invest too heavily in new infrastructure that might be underutilized.
Although future demand could grow so much that an onsite substation might need to be added, it’s important to look before leaping. Airport operators need to satisfy their users’ requirements, but they also don’t want to invest too heavily in new infrastructure that might be underutilized for years. Aside from some of the largest airports, many should expect a more modest increase in their need for power, such as a 4- to 12-MW substation. Local utility companies can typically install such a substation in less than two years. Given that largescale electrification efforts are more than two years away and are likely to change in their exact needs, airports are better served by planning and being ready than by executing too early.
Ultimately, airport operators face a balancing act as they weigh the options of waiting against the financial risks of investing in infrastructure that may be the wrong size or in the wrong location to meet the needs of a future that is not yet clear. Although it is too early to definitely know where to build substations for fleets of electric aircraft, it is not premature to include allowances for eGSE when replacing electrical equipment or to start conceptual planning for the infrastructure to support electrification efforts. Now is the time to develop a flexible road map for electrification so that airports are ready to seize opportunities to invest wisely in their infrastructure, instead of trying to catch up.