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CLIMATE

ENERGY

Isavia’s operations are in many respects energy intensive, and fuel consumption is the weightiest environmental factor in Isavia’s operations. The greatest share of this consumption is accounted for by the servicing and maintenance of the runways and operating areas of airports. Such services are significantly dependent on the weather. This means that major fluctuations can occur from year to year – regardless of passenger numbers – particularly if winter services using the most energy-intensive equipment are required for many days in the year. We closely monitor fuel consumption in our operations and have begun to make efforts to try and reduce it.

Isavia adopted an Environment and Climate Action Plan in the course of 2018. This plan set out various measures aimed at reducing the negative environmental impact of the company’s operations. These measures include a 70% target for eco-friendly vehicles of all new vehicles purchased, in those categories where such vehicles are available. It is hoped that this will lead to a drop in fuel consumption going forward.

Isavia’s total fuel consumption rose from the previous year, but fuel consumption per passenger fell slightly by just over 1%. Isavia’s target for 2018 was to reduce fuel consumption per passenger by 4%, but this was not achieved.

FUEL CONSUMPTION BY LITRE

Year2015201620172018
Benzine45.66547.13140.76939.964
Diesel751.722714.574819.696893.326
Aircraft fuel

62.46877.520
Litres per passenger0,1480,1060,0960,095

These measures include a 70% target for eco-friendly vehicles of all new vehicles purchased, in those categories where such vehicles are available. It is hoped that this will lead to a drop in fuel consumption going forward.

Last year, electricity consumption at Isavia was 28,682,370 kWh – this is lower than in 2017. Electricity consumption is, however, expected to rise in the coming years as result of the expansion of Keflavík Airport and of further installation and greater use of energy-intensive infrastructure, e.g. grounding for aircraft and charging stations for cars and other vehicles. The amount of hot water used by Isavia was 901,089 cubic metres.

The company has begun work in reducing its need for energy from non-renewable energy sources such as fossil fuels – these efforts include purchasing new electric cars and sending employees with a commercial driver’s licence on eco-driving courses. Also noteworthy is Isavia’s Environment and Climate Action Plan, referred to above, which contains various measures aimed at reducing energy consumption, particularly fuel consumption.

Isavia has also decided to put its electricity purchasing out to tender in 2019. The seller will be required to deliver exclusively renewable energy.

Electricity use

Year kWh
2016 22843018
2017 29421110
2018 28682370

grEENHOUSE-GAS EMISSIONS

Isavia’s direct greenhouse-gas emissions can be traced directly to fuel consumption. In 2018, the amount of direct greenhouse-gas emissions caused by burning fossil fuels was 2,694 t CO2e .

The energy used by Isavia in its operation in the form of electricity or heat comes from district heating plants or hydropower plants. In both cases, the energy in question is from renewable sources which generate very low emissions of greenhouse gases. Indirect emissions due to heat and electricity, therefore, are very slight if account is taken of electricity production by other means. According to the National Energy Authority, the average emission level for energy generation is 11.8 g CO2e per kilowatt-hour. Indirect emissions through energy consumption in 2018 totalled 338 t CO2.

The landfilling of waste and staff travel can also be considered indirect sources of greenhouse gas emissions from the company’s operations. In 2018, 1,303 tonnes of unsorted waste were sent to landfill. Emissions from landfill waste disposal by Isavia in 2018 were 785 tonnes of CO2e.

Direct greenhouse-gas emissions from the burning of fossil fuels per passenger in 2018 totalled 0.254 kg, slightly less than in the previous year.

Co2 emissions per passenger

Year Kg.
2015 0,394
2016 0,282
2017 0,257
2018 0,254

There was a decrease in direct greenhouse-gas emissions per passenger from fuel consumption from 2017 to 2018. This is part of the measures taken by Isavia to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.

In 2015, the company set itself the objective of reducing greenhouse-gas emissions by 29% per passenger by 2030. Today, Isavia has reduced greenhouse-gas emissions from its operations by just under 40%. This target has therefore been revised and is now a reduction of 60% by 2030, as compared to 2015 levels.

Total Co2 emissions per passenger

Year kg.
2015 0,6
2016 0,46
2017 0,37
2018 0,36

AIR QUALITY

Isavia monitors nitrogen dioxide levels around Keflavík Airport by means of an air-quality meter located over Eyjabyggð. Real-time measurements can be found on the loftgaedi.is website. A new air-quality forecast for Keflavík Airport was made last year, using a base figure of 14.5 million passengers in 2025. The conclusion of this forecast was that sulphur dioxide, particulate matter and carbon monoxide concentrations are always below the reference limits. Probability calculations show that hourly values of nitrogen dioxide may exceed the regulatory reference limit, but the number of such incidences would be below the norm. The conclusion of the assessment is that air-quality criteria are met.

 

In 2015, the Managing Director of Isavia signed a pledge on climate action drafted by Reykjavík City and Festa, the Icelandic Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility. Following signature of this pledge, Isavia set itself the objective of reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, thus demonstrating initiative and responsibility towards the environment and society. In 2017, Isavia received the Incentive Award for Climate Action from the City of Reykjavík and Festa. Isavia is conscious of the responsibility it bears regarding climate issues and greenhouse-gas emission and is working in an active and organised way on measures to reduce its carbon footprint.

Isavia is conscious of the responsibility it bears regarding climate issues and greenhouse-gas emission and is working in an active and organised way on measures to reduce its carbon footprint.

Keflavik Airport is a participant in Airport Counsel International (ACI) Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) program, which aims to reduce airports’ carbon emissions. The program is developed by airports for airports. Four levels of certification are in the program: Mapping of the carbon footprint, carbon management towards a reduced carbon footprint, third party engagement in carbon footprint reduction and finally carbon neutrality for direct emissions by offsetting. Keflavik Airport has participated for the last three years in the program. Work on environmental issues is based on Isavia’s Environmental Policy and on Isavia’s Environment and Climate Action Plan. This plan set out various measures aimed at reducing the negative environmental impact of the company’s operations. It contains twelve objectives to be achieved over the period 2019–30.

Borealis Alliance Free Route Airpspace

Isavia is a member of Borealis Alliance, an association of nine air navigation service providers in Northern Europe.

Work is ongoing on the Free Route Airspace project, aimed at shorter flight times resulting in lower fuel consumption, lower costs and less pollution.

In Iceland, aircraft operators can now schedule and operate direct flights from Keflavík Airport to airports in Norway and Scotland, the nearest air traffic control areas to the south-east of Icelandic airspace.