The UK’s Luton airport has completed a multi-million-pound investment in a fleet of sustainable car park transfer buses and operational vehicles.
The investment forms part of Luton’s sustainability strategy, which aims to deliver net zero scope 1 and scope 2 emissions by 2040, the airport said.
The new buses are powered by ISCC (International Sustainability Carbon Certification) certified hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), a lower-carbon alternative to diesel that can save up to 90 per cent of carbon emissions across the fuel’s lifecycle.
Alongside the transition of all airside vehicles to HVO and an increase in the number of electric vehicles, Luton’s investment in the buses means almost two thirds of the airport’s operational fleet will be electric or running on low-carbon fuel by the end of 2024, the company claims.
David Vazquez, head of sustainability at Luton airport, said: “As part of our commitment to net zero, we have set targets to implement a 100 per cent low-carbon fleet by 2030.
“From the end of this year, this latest transition will reduce our [scope 1 and scope 2] airport emissions by nearly 15 per cent, playing an important role in our plans for responsible growth.
“All aspects of our sustainability strategy are underpinned by collaboration and I’m grateful to teams across the business, who work so hard to embed better environmental and social practices into their daily roles and responsibilities.”
Luton’s trajectory to net zero scope 1 and scope 2 emissions focuses on a number of key areas that will see the airport working with partners and the wider industry to implement various decarbonisation initiatives.
These include developing on-site renewables, phasing out natural gas, improving energy efficiency and transitioning its operational fleet to low carbon alternatives.
