EIB loan supports Dublin Airport’s efficiency, resilience and green initiatives
Dublin Airport is set to advance a major programme of sustainability initiatives after securing a €288m long-term loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB). The funding forms part of a broader €627m investment plan by airport operator daa, targeting emissions reduction, improved water management, and increased energy efficiency across the campus.
Key projects under the programme include the rollout of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure for both airside and landside fleets, supporting a shift to zero-emission transport, and the modernisation of water and wastewater treatment systems to improve resource management during periods of peak airport activity. These upgrades align with daa’s ongoing commitment to decarbonising its operations and the EIB’s priorities on climate action and environmental sustainability.
Ioannis Tsakiris, vice president of the EIB, emphasised the airport’s strategic role, “Dublin Airport plays a vital role as Ireland’s international gateway and a hub connecting communities and businesses across Europe and the world. The EIB is proud to support this ambitious investment that will make the airport greener, more efficient, and more resilient.”
In addition to the EIB loan, daa has received a €2.33 million grant through the European Union’s Connecting Europe Facility to further support these initiatives. CEO Kenny Jacobs highlighted the wider benefits, “Today marks a real step forward for Dublin Airport. With the EIB’s backing, we’re able to push ahead with major upgrades that will make a genuine difference in rolling out EV charging at scale, modernising how we manage water, and switching our terminals to renewable energy sources. These projects aren’t just about cutting emissions; they’re about making the airport work better for everyone including our passengers, customers and staff as well as the wider community.”
The EIB has been a long-term partner of daa, providing financing for Dublin and Cork airports over the past three decades. Previous loans have supported terminal expansions, runway works, and related infrastructure projects, with cumulative support exceeding €7.6bn across Europe and globally, with a focus on safety, operational resilience, and sustainability.
Since July Dublin Airport has been trialling a direct air capture (DAC) system developed by Trinity College Dublin under the AirInMotion project, funded by the European Innovation Council and supported by Enterprise Ireland. The modular system extracts CO₂ from ambient air using advanced adsorbents and low‑grade waste heat, providing real-world data on efficiency and operational performance in an airport environment. The captured CO₂ can be used as a feedstock for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), combining with renewable hydrogen to produce synthetic fuels, creating a circular loop.