International Airport Review
Michelle Sanbrink
16 Mar 2026
Michelle Sandbrink, Corporate Strategy and Sustainability Management, Fraport outlines how Frankfurt Airport is accelerating its long term renewable energy strategy through offshore wind, innovative vertical PV and large scale electrification to deliver resilient, low carbon airport operations.
Airports require continuous, substantial energy for all operations, from terminals, runway systems, data centres, baggage facilities, to security checkpoints. As the electrification of ground equipment, vehicle fleets and building systems increases demand, the key challenge is achieving a robust, economically viable renewable transition.
Unlike other facilities, airports can’t scale back when energy gets scarce or expensive. Security systems, lighting, climate control, digital infrastructure, everything must function without interruption. Our energy strategy has to deliver three things at once: decarbonisation, reliability and planning certainty. Buying renewable electricity on short-term contracts might look good in reports, but it doesn’t provide long-term security and rarely helps expand renewable capacity...
