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Greening the Gate: Eco-Friendly Design in African Airports

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The global agenda is being transformed by climate change, making sustainability more than a buzzword. There has been pressure on the aviation industry to innovate and operate more sustainably due to its carbon-intensive footprint. It is often overlooked, but airports play a crucial role in this transformation, often underappreciated.

An Airport Using Solar Panels | AI Fiction

Beyond their basic function as hubs for arrival and departure, airports are intricate and energy-intensive ecosystems that play a critical yet often underestimated role in the sustainability of air travel. These facilities operate around the clock, consuming vast amounts of energy for lighting, heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), and baggage handling systems. Furthermore, airports are major nodes in the global transportation network, interfacing with ground transport systems, supply chains, and passenger services all of which contribute to their substantial environmental footprint. Waste management, water use, and land development further compound these impacts, making airport infrastructure a significant factor in aviation’s overall carbon intensity. As sustainability becomes a core objective in rethinking global mobility, airports’ design, operation, and governance are gaining increased attention from policymakers, investors, and environmental advocates.

While discussions around green innovation in aviation frequently spotlight developments in Europe, North America, and parts of Asia, there is a growing, though less publicized, momentum for sustainable airport practices in Africa. Despite facing infrastructural and economic challenges, African nations are turning these constraints into opportunities by adopting forward-thinking approaches to airport sustainability. The continent’s abundance of solar energy, the rising demand for air connectivity, and recent investments in transportation infrastructure collectively position African airports as promising frontrunners in the shift toward more sustainable aviation systems. These developments are helping to reduce carbon emissions and fostering energy resilience, lowering operational costs, and creating jobs all while reimagining what climate-conscious aviation can look like in the Global South.

In Africa, a handful of visionary airport authorities are utilizing renewable energies such as solar panels, constructing eco-friendly terminals, and managing waste and water more efficiently. These efforts reduce carbon emissions and create cost savings, energy resilience, and local employment opportunities. These developments redefine sustainable aviation in the Global South from South Africa to Kenya and Rwanda.

These ambitious strategies are not just theoretical. They are already being implemented across the continent, with several examples leading the way.

George Airport, South Africa

George Airport, located in South Africa’s Western Cape, made history in 2016 by becoming the first airport on the African continent to operate entirely on solar energy. This landmark achievement was made possible by installing approximately 2,000 photovoltaic solar panels, which generate around 750 kilowatts of electricity per day—more than enough to meet the airport’s daily energy requirements. Surplus energy is fed back into the regional power grid, enhancing the area’s overall energy availability and contributing to grid stability in a region that experiences frequent power outages. The project has led to an estimated annual reduction of 1,323 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, significantly contributing to South Africa’s broader climate change mitigation goals.

MOI International Airport, Kenya

Moi International Airport in Mombasa, Kenya, has emerged as a regional leader in sustainable airport operations through its pioneering use of solar energy. In 2019, the airport inaugurated a 500-kilowatt photovoltaic solar power plant, developed in collaboration with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). This grid-connected solar system generates approximately 820,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually, significantly reducing the airport’s dependency on non-renewable energy sources. As a result, the airport lowers its carbon emissions by around 1,300 tons each year, contributing meaningfully to Kenya’s climate goals outlined in its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. Beyond its environmental benefits, the solar project enhances energy reliability and reduces operating costs, an essential advantage in a region where grid power can be expensive and unstable. By aligning environmental performance with operational resilience, Moi International Airport exemplifies how airports in emerging economies can take bold, practical steps toward achieving long-term sustainability.

Cape Town International Airport, South Africa

Cape Town International Airport, one of Africa’s busiest aviation hubs, has taken a comprehensive and structured approach to sustainability by implementing an Environmental Management System (EMS) aligned with ISO 14001 standards. This internationally recognized certification underscores the airport’s commitment to integrating environmental considerations. The EMS provides a systematic framework for identifying, managing, and minimizing environmental impacts, ranging from energy use and water consumption to waste management and pollution control. A core focus of the system is energy conservation, achieved through initiatives such as LED lighting retrofits, innovative HVAC systems, and energy-efficient building designs that collectively reduce the airport’s carbon footprint. Water resource management is another priority, particularly critical in a drought-prone region. The airport employs water-saving technologies, greywater recycling, and rigorous monitoring systems to ensure responsible usage and long-term sustainability. Additionally, the EMS fosters a culture of environmental awareness among airport staff and stakeholders through training, continuous evaluation, and transparent reporting.

Dakar Blaise Diagne International Airport, Senegal

Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD) in Senegal is emerging as a leader in sustainable aviation in West Africa. In 2023, it became one of only three African airports to reach Level 3 of the Airport Carbon Accreditation program, recognizing its efforts to reduce emissions and engage stakeholders in climate action. The airport is also investing in solar energy as part of its goal to achieve carbon neutrality and energy independence by 2035. Additionally, it is connected to Dakar via the eco-friendly Train Express Regional, helping reduce road traffic emissions.

As climate change continues to reshape global priorities, African airports are emerging as testbeds for innovative and adaptive sustainability solutions. These forward-thinking initiatives, from continent-first solar-powered operations to integrated environmental management systems and eco-conscious mobility infrastructure, demonstrate that innovation is not confined to the Global North. Instead, it thrives in the Global South, where necessity fuels creativity and localized solutions address global challenges. By turning infrastructural limitations into opportunities for green innovation, African airports are reducing their environmental impact and redefining what modern, climate-resilient aviation can look like.

References

Airports Company South Africa. (n.d.). The environment. https://www.airports.co.za/about-us/making-a-difference/the-environment 

Airport Carbon Accreditation. (2023, May 30). Blaise Diagne International Airport unlocks Level 3 of Airport Carbon Accreditation. https://www.airportcarbonaccreditation.org/blaise-diagne-international-airport-unlocks-level-3-of-airport-carbon-accreditation/ 

Business Wire. (2021, December 28). Senegal inaugurates its Regional Express Train linking Dakar to Diamniadio. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211228005128/en/Senegal-Inaugurates-its-Regional-Express-Train-Linking-Dakar-to-Diamniadio 

CIO Africa. (2018, January 9). Solarcentury to install EA’s largest airport solar PV plant at Moi International. https://cioafrica.co/solarcentury-to-install-eas-largest-airport-solar-pv-plant-at-moi-international/

CN Traveler. (2016, February 9). George Airport in South Africa becomes continent’s first to be run on solar energy. https://www.cntraveler.com/story/george-airport-in-south-africa-becomes-continents-first-to-be-run-on-solar-energy 

Environment + Energy Leader. (2016, December 22). Kenya’s airport goes solar, offsetting 1,300 tons of CO2 annually. https://www.environmentenergyleader.com/stories/kenyas-airport-goes-solar-offsetting-1300-tons-of-co2-annually%2C17354 

Frontiers in Energy Research. (2024). An adaptive energy management strategy for airports to achieve carbon neutrality. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenrg.2024.1365650/full 

International Civil Aviation Organization. (2014). Green airports in South Africa. https://www.icao.int/Meetings/EnvironmentalWorkshops/Documents/2014-Kenya/8-2_SouthAfricaGreenAirports.pdf 

International Civil Aviation Organization. (2023, March). African airports road to net zero. https://www.icao.int/WACAF/Documents/2023/GreenAirport/ACI%20Greeen%20Airports%20Presentation%20March%202023.pdf 

MDPI Energies. (2023). Airports—Energy and sustainability perspectives, 18(6), 1360. https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/6/1360 Phys.org. (2016, October 25). South Africa basks in continent’s first solar-powered airport. https://phys.org/news/2016-10-south-africa-basks-continent-solar-powered.html

Pictures: FreePik

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