A digital twin of Brussels Airport is showing the potential for its buildings to reach net-zero emissions by 2030, drastically accelerating the airport’s initial target of net zero by 2050.

Designed by Scottish firm IES, the digital twin confirms the airport’s net-zero plan through the EU Green Deal Stargate project.

Brussels Airport is a three-runway single-terminal international airport, which is spread over 1250ha, employs more than 24,000 people, and transits over 26 million passengers and half a million tonnes of freight each year.

This flagship project is being delivered as part of the major EU-funded Stargate initiative, which received a €24.8m grant from the European Green Deal to improve the sustainability of airports and aviation. Brussels Airport is taking a leading role in the Stargate project, which is being implemented alongside a consortium of 21 partners, including airports in Athens, Budapest and Toulouse, which are also collaborating with IES to develop digital twins to support their decarbonisation goals.

The project marks a step up from the current use of digital-twin technology at airports, where it has most commonly been used in experiments to optimise commercial operations. The collaboration with Brussels Airport through Stargate will therefore be one of the first examples of digital twins being deployed for decarbonisation modelling at full scale at an airport.

IES created a digital replica of the 40 most energy-intensive buildings at Brussels Airport before modelling scenarios such as installing PV solar, EV chargers and electrifying heating to find the most effective routes to net zero carbon emissions by 2030 for the airport.

Through rigorous modelling stages, IES simulated the airport’s plan to cut emissions across its buildings through various energy-saving measures, including replacing gas boilers with heat pumps and installing solar PV on site. In doing so, it was able to verify the potential for up to 63% CO₂ savings against the 2019 baseline year through these measures.

The modelling has demonstrated the plan is a robust decarbonisation pathway and, as such, Brussels Airport is now deploying zero-carbon energy options over the next six years. It is also committed to investing in additional renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, to be less dependent on external energy providers, meaning the airport can be carbon free by the end of this decade.

“To reach net zero, we must take a holistic approach and, in this particular industry, decarbonising buildings can help us make a positive intervention,” said Giulia Barbano, R&D operations manager, at IES (www.iesve.com). “Airports operate across vast space, demand large amounts of power and experience complex energy interactions. Making any operational change is no small feat and such decisions must be backed by evidence, and that’s where digital twin technology can be a game-changer. Before deploying extensive, zero-carbon options, airports must first test their effects on energy, cost and carbon savings, both before installation and during live operation. This project is a world-first and demonstrates the effectiveness of digital-twin technology in determining the future of complex sites like airports.”

Christel Vandenhouten, head of sustainable development at Brussels Airport (www.brusselsairport.be), added: “The greatest challenge we face today is achieving net zero emissions. Airports can play an important role in reaching this goal. According to data from the IEA, the aviation industry accounted for 2% of global CO₂ emissions in 2022, and these figures need to be kept in check as the sector returns to pre-pandemic levels. By deploying zero-carbon options within our airport buildings, promising opportunities exist to make a positive impact in reducing our scope one and two emissions. While there is still much work to be done, digital-twin technology can help us simulate the impact of various net-zero options, so we can move forward with confidence in achieving the ambitious targets we have set.”

Vandenhouten said the funding from the EU was critical, as well as the 30% contribution from Stargate partners as co-funding. With over 30 projects under the Stargate umbrella, it’s an investment that fosters cross-border collaboration, tackling the challenges of sustainable aviation on a global footing.

The Stargate project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement GA101037053. For further information, visit www.greendealstargate.eu.