Renewables paving a pathway to emissions reduction
Summary
Brisbane Airport: Renewables paving a pathway to emissions reduction.
A six-year project of carefully planned and well-executed solar photovoltaic installations have demonstrated Brisbane Airport’s commitment to creating environmentally and commercially sustainable value at Australia’s largest capital
city airport.
Brisbane Airport was one of Australia’s first airports to include sustainability in its Airport Environment Strategy (AES). Since doing so, it has focused on creating prosperous airport business community within a sustainable environment.
Confronting the challenge of rising energy costs and increased emissions, in 2012 the airport embarked on an ambitious project of installing 22,000 solar panels across six sites at the airport, five roof-mounted and one on the ground. This was
combined with a range of energy efficiency initiatives that lead to changes in the airport’s lighting, as well as its heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) technology.
IFM Investors believes the long-term strength and sustainability of the global economy is only possible if we have a healthy environment. Renewable energy will ultimately play a big part in combatting climate change.
Deepa Bharadwaj, Executive Director, Infrastructure
Today the new solar installation accounts for approximately 18 percent of Brisbane Airport’s direct electricity consumption, or 6% of the total airport consumption p.a. This has resulted in reduced carbon emissions of approximately 8,000
tonne of CO2 p.a., which is roughly equivalent to the power usage of 750 average households.
About the author
Executive Director
Deepa Bharadwaj
Joined in 2017
Deepa has senior level responsibility for managing IFM Investors' infrastructure operations, including fundraising, sourcing investment opportunities, transaction execution, asset management, and developing client relationships. She is a board member of Brisbane Airport and Mersin International Port. Deepa has extensive global expertise in the infrastructure and energy sectors, having worked in the US, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe. Her 13 years at Standard Chartered Bank in Singapore included senior leadership roles, most recently as Global Head for Power, Transportation and Infrastructure. Over the course of her career, Deepa has successfully concluded several billion dollars in advisory and financing transactions, including marquee deals in power, utilities, renewable energy, infrastructure and transportation. Deepa also has extensive experience in diversity and inclusion initiatives and is currently a member of the Steering Committee of the Women’s Infrastructure Network in Australia.