Mitigation of Carbon Footprint of an Airport in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Aviation is a major source of carbon emissions and this industry is growing at a fast pace, drawing the attention of environmentalists. In addition to being a large source of carbon emissions, aviation is also responsible for the deterioration of air quality, noise pollution and consumption of water resources. With the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) being the largest country in the middle east, aviation is a major means of mass transport. The number of air travelers is increasing exponentially, resulting in a serious threat to sustainability, with both climate change and the environment in perspective. The per capita carbon footprint of KSA is among the top 20 countries in the world. In this study, an international airport in KSA has been considered with its carbon footprint estimated for 2016. Airports are purposefully located outside the city and require large construction free land for the purpose of security and airport activities. Thus, an airport provides ample space and opportunity to be used for energy harvesting and carbon mitigation. In this work, a three-tier process to neutralize the carbon emissions of the airport has been suggested to transform it into a carbon-neutral airport. The reduction of carbon emissions suggested in this study includes a reduction in emissions, promoting renewable energy, and carbon capture and storage. The proposed methods complement each other and enable a 360° approach for carbon mitigation.