As part of SEA’s Energy Management System and ISO 50001 certification, SEA Group’s energy consumption management is based on the following principles:
- energy must be produced in respect and protection of the environment;
- the reduction of the environmental impact and the improvement of the environmental specifications are among the criteria which contribute to the establishment of the business strategies, and also on infrastructural development;
- the awareness of employees, partners, suppliers, contractors and stakeholders on the environmental impacts of their activities is a central concern for the improvement of the environmental performance at both airports.
The System provides for the setting up of the Energy Team and, for the integrated management of the more specific-technical aspects, a Technical Group (also with the involvement of a SEA Energia representative), involving all departments most directly involved in the various aspects, from design to implementation, to maintenance, in addition to the Environment Management structure, ensuring the necessary collective vision in terms of processes and therefore the identification of the best actions to be taken.
The main energy saving measures carried out in 2018 were:
- night-time switch off of unused runways under noise reduction programming;
- introduction of low consumption lighting;
- optimization of the air conditioning units (reduction of the ‘minimum external air flow rate’ as a function of the presence of passengers, integration of inverters at thermal substations, optimization of AHUs and mixing chambers, optimization of microclimate);
- continuation of the computerization of energy consumption data and the integration of additional field sensors in order to subdivide and analyse consumption more precisely;
- almost complete elimination of decentralized production centres (boilers, refrigeration units, direct methane use) with consequent further improvements in terms of environmental impact;
- introduction of small electric cars for operators, in addition to the elimination of diesel vehicles in the aeronautical area;
- revamping of refrigeration units with the integration of new, more efficient units serving both the arrivals and departures buildings of Terminal 2;
- replacement of CDZ heat recovery units in Terminal 1.
We have at both airports co-generation/tri-generation stations in operation which generate on an ongoing basis energy savings benefitting our Group, the quality of the environment and the inhabitants of neighbouring areas. We offer high efficiency services which allow the generation of savings both for the Company and for clients which, thanks to the use of district heating, achieve savings from heat recovery. No renewable source energy production facilities are in use within the group.
SEA Group energy consumption
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit | Malpensa | Linate | Malpensa | Linate | Malpensa | Linate |
| Petrol (GJ)* | 4,533 | 1,629 | 4,372 | 1,547 | 5,040 | 1,641 |
| Heating oil (GJ) | 2,366 | - | 2,401 | - | 1,963 | - |
| Methane (GJ) ** | 2,136,687 | 1,068,258 | 2,265,734 | 1,170,658 | 2,141,443 | 1,111,063 |
| Motor vehicle diesel fuel (GJ)* | 24,369 | 11,381 | 23,596 | 12,221 | 21,030 | 9,610 |
| Electricity acquired (GJ) | 1,004 | 1,928 | 1,262 | 588 | 2,855 | 784 |
| Refrigeration energy sold (GJ) | 18,365 | - | 17,643 | - | 20,021 | - |
| Thermal energy sold (GJ) | 20,298 | 321,533 | 15,959 | 334,741 | 21,444 | 284,550 |
| Electricity sold (GJ) | 246,460 | 198,749 | 287,182 | 274,254 | 251,253 | 246,751 |
| Total (GJ) | 1,883,835 | 562,915 | 1,976,581 | 576,019 | 1,879,612 | 591,797 |
(*) 2016 data does not include SEA Prime.
(**) 2018 methane consumption of the Malpensa T2 canteen is also included.
NOTE: Translation coefficients utilised: Table of national standard parameters: coefficients used for the inventory of CO2 emissions in the UNFCCC national inventory (average values for years 2015-2017). This data can be used for the calculation of emissions from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018 for natural gas, petrol, motor vehicle diesel fuel and heating oil. For electricity and thermal energy, the translation coefficient utilised is equivalent to 0.0036 GJ/kWh (Source: GRI Sustainability Reporting Guidelines, Version 3.1).
Source: SEA
Energy intensity (GJ/unit of traffic)
| Internal energy consumption | Malpensa | Linate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 0.08 | 0.06 | 0.07 |
| 2017 | 0.07 | 0.06 | 0.07 |
| 2018 | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.06 |
Note: per traffic unit means the number of passengers plus goods transported (where 1 pax is equivalent to 100 kg of goods).
Note: 2016 data does not include SEA Prime.
Source: SEA
There was a significant increase in the amount of electricity purchased for the Linate airport, due to the out-of-service period of SEA Energia's co-generation station during February 2018. Energy production was suspended for safety reasons linked to a malfunction in the automatic fire extinguishing plant in "case of fire" in the motor areas, which therefore led to an increased need of electricity for the network.
Despite this, SEA’s interventions at both airports resulted in progressive energy savings of 13,589 MWh in 2010 (-7.7% compared to 2009), of 8,353 MWh in 2011 (-5.1% compared to 2010) and of 1,080 MWh in 2012 (-0.7% compared to 2011). Despite the enlargement of Malpensa Terminal 1 with new infrastructural spaces of 49,600 m2 in 2013, 18,500 m2 in 2014 and 4,950 m2 in 2015, for the operation of the third satellite and north building and the implementation of the new railway station at Terminal 2, SEA nevertheless managed to achieve significant energy savings compared to 2009.
In 2018, consumption in both airports decreased by 4.1% compared to 2017, continuing the positive containment trend compared to 2009, the year in which SEA began energy saving policy interventions.