Southampton Airport has taken a leap forward in reducing its carbon emissions, as it switches on its green electricity feeds for stationary aircraft at stands.

Launched by Eastleigh Borough Council’s Councillor Rupert Kyrle and Southampton Airport’s Managing Director, Neil Garwood, the newly completed Fixed Electrical Ground Power (FEGP) will provide a direct electrical feed to aircraft from the airport’s main power circuit, which is from 100% renewable sources.

JLC Group announced a 5 year agreement to maintin the new FEGP units as Southampton Airport powers towards greener energy. the current 4 units are powererd by 100% renewable energy and the airport is committed to installing FEGP on all aircraft stands by 2030.

Before FEGP was rolled out, stationary aircraft that were being offloaded or awaiting passengers were charged by built in Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) which use jet fuel, or Ground Power Units (GPUs) which are mobile engines powered by diesel. 

Speaking on the launch of FEGP at the airport, Neil Garwood, Managing Director at Southampton Airport, said; “This is the first phase of our Fixed Electrical Ground Power programme, which is one of many ways that will contribute to Southampton Airport becoming carbon-neutral by 2030, we also aim to have Fixed Electrical Ground Power at all 12 stands that same year.

Southampton Airport expects to save 600 tonnes of CO2 each year. his is equivalent to;

  • 1,500,000 miles covered by a car
  • 260,600 litres of petrol and 221,950 litres of diesel*
  • 100 homes’ electricity supply for the whole year
  • Could charge up to 76,000,000 smartphones
  • 200 tonnes of waste