Bristol Airport begins major terminal decarbonisation work as part of net zero 2030 plans

Bristol Airport has started significant terminal decarbonisation work as it advances toward its target of becoming net zero across its operations by 2030. The investment involves a new energy centre that will phase out gas boilers and provide low‑carbon heating and cooling for the main terminal and expansion areas.

image: Bristol Airport

The airport said the project, backed by about £10m of investment, will replace traditional fossil fuel‑based heating with 22 air source heat pumps and an electric boiler, helping to cut around 625 tonnes of CO₂e annually — equivalent to removing roughly 135 cars from the road for a year.

Currently, gas accounts for approximately 45% of the airport’s direct emissions (Scope 1) and around 17 % of its total operational footprint, which includes procured electricity (Scope 2). The new energy centre is expected to be built off‑site and installed near the Hampton by Hilton hotel before this winter.

Hannah Pollard, Head of Sustainability at Bristol Airport, said, “This is a true milestone for Bristol Airport and is testament to the Airport’s commitment to lowering its carbon footprint.

“Decarbonising buildings is one of the three key pillars to achieving net zero operations by 2030, alongside our transition to electric vehicles and investing in renewable energy.”

The airport’s sustainability strategy, published in recent years, sets interim targets including a 73% reduction in emissions by 2027 compared with pre‑pandemic levels, and the implementation of heat pumps across other buildings on site.

Bristol Airport is also operating an Aviation Carbon Transition (ACT) programme, which supports technology innovation aimed at reducing aviation emissions beyond its direct operations, including Scope 3 emissions from flights and surface access.