July 2026

The Five Minute Feature

Accelerating Green Energy iNfrastructure Deployment in European Airports (AGENDA)

With the cost of the aviation sector reaching Net Zero set to be €1.3 trillion, there is no doubt that financial support is vital to turn unwavering commitment into action. How is ACI EUROPE helping airports to reach their decarbonisation goals? The AGENDA project, as a part of a new ACI EUROPE service to members, aims to increase airport involvement in European Commission-funded initiatives – bringing almost €25 million directly to airport-led green initiatives. In this month’s Five Minute Feature, discover more about how airports are proactively leveraging the AGENDA project to unlock funding opportunities and fast-track their sustainability ambitions, the key objectives of each airport so far, and how to join this exciting new service.

Coordinated by ACI EUROPE, Accelerating Green Energy iNfrastructure Deployment in European Airports (AGENDA) is a multi-airport project focusing on the decarbonisation of airport ground operations, with the aim of accelerating progress towards the goals of Destination 2050. However, to reach these goals, a significant investment is required at Europe’s airports. The AGENDA project has been selected for European Commission funding under the Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Facility (AFIF) priority – the CINEA (European Commission) key funding initiative aimed at supporting the deployment of alternative fuel infrastructure across Europe.

The project is part of ACI EUROPE’s new service to members, which aims to increase airports’ involvement in EC-funded initiatives. The service will provide dedicated support to ACI EUROPE members in coordinating multi-airport project proposals in response to the European Commission (EC) calls – with the aim not only to increase the chances of receiving vital funding (considering the investment crunch that airports are in and will be in the coming years), but also to support ACI EUROPE and individual airport strategies on key topics such as sustainability, innovation, and airport capacity. Finally, the service will enhance cooperation among ACI EUROPE members to meet societal expectations for future operations at and around airports.

The AGENDA project, alongside coordinator ACI EUROPE, is currently a consortium of seven European airports: Cologne Bonn and Stuttgart airports (Germany), Graz and Vienna airports (Austria), SEA Milan airports (Linate and Malpensa for Italy), the aviation company EVIA AERO and Kosice Airport (Slovakia). With a duration of 39 months, the project will receive €25 million in funding against €82 million in investments.

AGENDA aims to electrify airport operations and install hydrogen supply infrastructure at these seven European airports, which handle a total of approximately 88 million passengers per year. Through EC funding, it hopes to accelerate progress towards the goals of the European Green Deal and Climate Neutrality by 2050 – enabling these airports to become trailblazers and standard-setters for Europe’s airport community. By electrifying ground operations and infrastructure, the project paves the way for the future electrification of electric-powered aircraft across Europe. The project’s scope includes the installation of Electric Ground Power Units (eGPU), Pre-Conditioned Air (PCA) systems, 400 Hz equipment, and charging points for ground service vehicles, as well as the upgrade of grid connections. Additionally, the project incorporates synergistic elements, such as photovoltaic panels and battery storage systems, to supply renewable electricity to the installations at Stuttgart, Vienna, and Milan airports.

Alongside this range of holistic measures, each airport also has specific aims and objectives linked to their contextual operations:

  • Flughafen Köln/Bonn GmbH plan to install Pre-Conditioned Air (PCA) systems and mobile electric Ground Power Units (eGPUs) to supply power to aircraft on the ground. In addition, they will install charging infrastructure to support vehicles and equipment and connect the planned Integrated Agri-voltaics within Terminals 1 and 2. These plans will utilise 100% renewable electricity from sun and wind.
  • Graz Airport will replace diesel-powered Ground Power Units (GPUs) with modern, low-noise Electric Ground Power Units (eGPUs) and further expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure, building on previously implemented measures to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions, utilising 100% renewable electricity from sun, water and wind.
  • SEA Milan Airports (Linate and Malpensa) will reduce emissions by installing 400 Hz power units and PCA systems for stationary aircraft, replacing traditional Auxiliary Power Units (APUs). Additionally, they will develop electric vehicle charging infrastructure and a hydrogen refuelling station to support sustainable ground operations, relying on 100% renewable electricity from the sun and wind.
  • Stuttgart Airport – Also entirely utilising renewable sun and wind energy, Stuttgart Airport will establish a decentralised, electricity-based PCA supply system and ensure secure and efficient connections to aircraft at designated parking positions using an underfloor pit system.
  • Vienna Airport will enhance energy efficiency by electrifying operations and replacing conventional diesel generators with more sustainable alternatives, relying in part on renewable electricity from solar and wind, with the full transition to renewable energy expected by 2033.
  • Košice Airport will electrify aircraft ground operations by deploying 10 mobile, battery-powered eGPUs and fixed power infrastructure, replacing conventional diesel units. The project will reduce CO₂ emissions by approximately 24 tonnes annually, save around 13,000 litres of diesel fuel per year, eliminate local NOₓ and PM2.5 emissions, reduce noise levels, and improve apron working conditions – all with 100% renewable electricity from solar and wind sources.

While each airport has individual objectives, their overall aims align – with benefits felt not only in terms of sustainability. Readers may be surprised to hear of the wide range of socio-economic benefits the AGENDA project is expected to bring to each airport. The initiative, thanks to the EC funding and joint effort of ACI EUROPE and the involved European airports, will generate significant economic benefits – with estimated annual savings of:

  • 13.9 million litres of jet fuel, achieved using Pre-Conditioned Air (PCA) and 400Hz/eGPU units
  • 581,000 litres of car fuel, resulting from the adoption of Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers.

These savings will not only reduce the environmental footprint of the participating airports, bringing them closer to their net-zero goals, but also contribute to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly aviation industry globally.

Alongside these savings, the international and cross-border nature of this multi-airport project facilitates and strengthens the cooperation among different airports and member states. A valuable, although more intangible, benefit is the knowledge sharing and intelligence exchange that such a project uniquely gifts. With ACI EUROPE at the helm as the project’s orchestrators, these airports are coming together to overcome challenges simultaneously, learn from how others have addressed similar obstacles, identify best practices that can be adapted to their own operations, avoid duplicating effort, and accelerate the deployment of innovative decarbonisation solutions. The collaborative approach also helps build long-term partnerships, strengthens technical expertise across the airport community, and ensures that successful initiatives can be scaled and replicated more widely across Europe’s airport network.

This project comes not only at a critical time for aviation’s decarbonisation, but also for Europe’s financial framework. The upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028 – 2034 will have an envelope of nearly €2 trillion – and airports will have the opportunity to tap into funding under programmes such as CEF (including AFIF), Horizon Europe, the newly introduced Competitiveness Fund, and more. “There is no better time for airports to be ready to provide how they can cultivate EC funding into tangible benefits for Europe,” notes Barbora Smolikova, ACI EUROPE’s Liaison Officer to SDIP. “The airports that get involved now will give themselves a head start in shaping future projects, building strong partnerships, and securing access to the funding needed to accelerate their decarbonisation ambitions. Through the AGENDA project, airports certainly don’t have to navigate the process alone: they gain the expertise, network and support needed to turn ambitious ideas into successful, funded initiatives that deliver lasting value for both their communities and the wider European aviation sector.”

To learn more about the AGENDA project, ACI EUROPE’s new service for members, please contact Ms Barbora Smolikova (barbora.smolikova@aci-europe.org) and follow the AGENDA project’s LinkedIn page for all the latest updates. Whether you’re taking your first steps towards EU-funded projects or looking to scale existing initiatives, there’s never been a better time to get involved with ACI EUROPE’s network.

As for upcoming projects and funding, actions and projects eligible under the MFF should have a “cross-border dimension” and either be involved in “implementing” the TEN-T, or completing it in a “smart, resilient, decarbonised and sustainable” fashion. ACI EUROPE will monitor the calls to be launched under the next MFF and, whenever a suitable opportunity arises, we will promptly inform our Members.