A state-owned Norwegian aviation asset owner and operator installed new fossil-free biofuels power generation turbines in the hope of eventually delivering both 100% on-site electricity and heating at one of its archipelago’s airports in the Arctic Ocean.
The Avinor-owned Svalbard Airport has started pilot project operations of its combined heat and power (CHP) energy plant which runs on liquefied biogas (LBG). The power plant includes three micro gas turbines, along with heat recovery and biogas boiler to cover all of Svalbard Airport’s on-site energy needs in the next year.
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“This is a very important climate measure for Avinor. Based on figures from 2022, emissions from electricity and heating at Svalbard Airport accounted for around 20% of Avinor’s total emissions,” Anders Kirsebom, Chair of the Board of Svalbard Airport, said in a statement reported by Airport Industry News and the Norwegian aviation website. “With this solution, we are taking a clear step in the right direction.”
Engineering and construction for the CHP plant was led by Adigo Renewables. Intergas AS, LNS Spitsbergen AS, JM Hansen AS and Assemblin AS all participated in project supply and completion.
Norway is utilizing liquified biogas to decarbonize its heavy industrial and transportation sectors such as airports. Organic waste such as manure and animal products are processed into biogas, then Norwegian companies such as Nordsol then refine and liquefy the biomethane into LGB.
LBG expansion is on the way in Scandinavia. Havila Biogass, for instance, is developing three LBG production plants in Norway which could start operations by 2027 and 2028, according to reports.
Nordsol’s contention is that only on-site liquefaction creates a non-fossil emissions pathway.
Avinor started up the LBG generation plan earlier this week. The plant will stay in pilot phase for about a year before connecting to fully power the Svalbard airport. Svalbard is an island chain located at the Arctic Ocean convergence with the Atlantic Ocean.
“Aviation is essential for settlement, emergency preparedness and business activity on Svalbard,” Norwegian says Minister of Transport Jon-Ivar Nygård said in a release. “At the same time, this infrastructure must also be developed in a more sustainable direction. The trial operation of the biogas plant at Svalbard Airport shows how Avinor is reducing emissions from airport operations, even under challenging conditions.”
Numerous airports in the U.S. have built or are developing microgrids to serve on-site power for the hub. Those include Pittsburgh International and JFK in New York.