VINCI Airports has achieved a significant milestone by winning the Airports Council International (ACI) Eco-Innovation Award for its exceptional environmental performance at Toulon Hyères airport. This accolade, awarded at the ACI Europe Annual Congress in Istanbul on July 3, 2024, recognizes Toulon Hyères airport’s ambitious action plan and its achievement of net zero emissions within its operational scope.
Toulon Hyères airport has become the first French airport and one of the first 14 worldwide to reach ACA Level 5, the highest level in ACI’s decarbonisation programme. This accomplishment underscores VINCI Airports’ commitment to environmental excellence and its ability to lead the environmental transition at its airports.
The airport’s success in achieving net zero emissions is attributed to a comprehensive approach that includes direct emission reduction efforts and collaborative initiatives with stakeholders. From 2018 to 2022, Toulon Hyères reduced its direct emissions by an impressive 92.5%. This was achieved through various measures, such as enhancing energy efficiency, replacing traditional lightbulbs with LEDs, installing heat pumps, transitioning to electric runway vehicles, and sourcing certified renewable energy.
In addition to these direct actions, the airport has proactively worked with stakeholders to further decarbonise operations. This includes introducing sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), adjusting landing fees based on aircraft emissions to encourage the use of newer fleets, installing decarbonised power supplies for aircraft, and building EV charging stands for passengers.
One of the most notable initiatives is the establishment of a carport-top solar power plant, which produces up to 690 MWh of green electricity annually. This plant supplies 30% of the airport’s electricity needs, with the remainder being fed into the city’s grid. This initiative not only reduces the airport’s reliance on non-renewable energy sources but also contributes to the overall green energy supply of the region.
Nicolas Notebaert, Chief Executive Officer of VINCI Concessions and Chairman of VINCI Airports, expressed his pride in the achievement, stating, “This award brings international recognition to the exemplary job our teams have done at Toulon Hyères to reach net zero emissions in the airport’s own operations and to rally all its stakeholders around its decarbonisation goal. Reconciling the essential need for mobility and the absolute need to cut carbon emissions is our priority at VINCI Airports, and I am proud that our airports are doing that, as we can see at Toulon Hyères today.”
The recognition of Toulon Hyères airport by ACI serves as a testament to VINCI Airports’ ongoing commitment to environmental excellence and sustainability. The airport continues to innovate and implement green initiatives, setting a benchmark for other airports worldwide. The collaborative efforts with stakeholders and the continuous drive towards achieving higher levels of sustainability underscore VINCI Airports’ role as a leader in the aviation industry’s environmental transition.
The ACI Eco-Innovation Award for Toulon Hyères is a significant milestone for VINCI Airports, showcasing its dedication to environmental stewardship and sustainable practices. As airports around the world look to reduce their carbon footprints, the achievements of Toulon Hyères stand as a shining example of what can be accomplished through ambition, innovation, and collaboration.
