Environmental Reporting
Environmental Reporting
Our commitment to the environment
- We are committed to enabling the sustainable development of the air transport sector, focusing on mitigating impacts and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- We aim to achieve Net Zero CO2 emissions under our direct control by 2030 through the following main initiatives: construction of photovoltaic plants, purchase of renewable energy, electrification of fleets, and use of biofuels.
- We work to reduce waste production and the use of raw materials in our airports, experimenting with innovative circular economy solutions, which we also apply to construction site management.
- We optimize the use of resources, including water, particularly limiting the use of potable water to essential purposes through treatment and reuse interventions and implementing water networks integrated with new technologies.
- We monitor and commit to the environmental protection of the areas in which we operate, with special attention to biodiversity.
- We are committed to reducing noise pollution and limiting the impact on air quality in areas adjacent to airport facilities.
We focus on creating innovative and sustainable solutions to meet the environmental challenges of our time.
Environmental Monitoring Plans
The environmental monitoring plans we adopt are essential for assessing the impact of our actions on the environment and for taking corrective measures when necessary (available in italian version).Cogeneration
Inside Fiumicino airport there is a natural gas-fuelled cogeneration plant that, in synergy with the photovoltaic plants under construction, contributes to covering the electricity needs of the airport ‘city’, reducing the reliance on the integration of energy from the external grid. The peak power absorbed - between passengers, airport operators and allied industries - can reach and exceed 32 MW. The power plant also supplies a significant part of the thermal demand of the airport district heating network, thanks to the heat recovered from engine exhaust gases and their cooling circuit.
Since 2015, the plant has obtained and annually maintains CAR (High Yield Cogeneration) qualification from the GSE (Gestore dei Servizi Energetici). The plant is managed by the subsidiary Leonardo Energia S.r.l., and its organisation is ISO 14001:2015 and Emas certified.
Specifications
There are three Rolls-Royce engines in the power station, which consist of 20 cylinders arranged ina V-shape with respect to the shaft, and that, through their respective alternators, are able to generate an electrical power of 8,560 kW each.
The recovery of thermal energy takes place mainly through three 5MW boilers, one for each engine, which are able to use the heat from the exhaust gases which would otherwise be lost. Before being released into the atmosphere, residual gases are chemically treated and carefully monitored in accordance with the law.
There is a thermal storage system in the power station which consists of four 26 m high insulated silos, each one containing each 250m3 of overheated water, to allow for greater flexibility in managing the power station and improve its efficiency.
The power station supplies the airport district heating network which runs, together with the electrical and IT infrastructures, through underground tunnels that are around 4,500 m long.
During the summer period, the heat recovered from the power station is used to produce cooling energy thanks to there being absorption and refrigeration systems linked to the district heating network.