Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) is turning to artificial intelligence to reduce the energy used by its heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, as part of its recently announced net zero policy.
The airport operator is rolling out an artificial intelligence (AI) system by a Canadian company called BrainBox AI, founded in 2017, which uses deep learning and cloud-based computing to autonomously optimise the airport’s existing HVAC systems. The installation is the first time the system has been used in the aviation sector.
The deployment follows a six-month pilot trial, which showed a 12 per cent decrease in HVAC energy usage and a 17 per cent drop in building equipment run-time, along with zero comfort-related complaints from customers.
It comes after the airport announced a goal of reaching net zero by 2025 at the start of August, which includes its scope one (produced on-site) and two (from energy or electricity produced offsite) emissions.
However, indirect (scope three) emissions from the airport’s broader supply chain, most notably from air travel, are not included in its 2025 pledge.
To achieve net zero (scope 1 and 2) by 2025, BAC has committed to transition to 100 per cent renewable energy and switching to an all-electric vehicle fleet.
BAC’s head of asset optimisation, Derek Boo, said: “We are committed to … adopting new technologies which can assist in reducing energy use that ultimately contributes to carbon emission reductions – this is one of the ways we’ll meet our goals.
“Based on our successful trial with BrainBox AI, we have identified several other opportunities to scale the program and we are looking forward to seeing the results.”
Brisbane Airport previously installed over 18,000 solar panels with 6 megawatts of generating capacity, launched an electric bus fleet in 2018, achieved a Green Star Communities certification in 2014, and constructed an airport train line in 2001.
It is also developing an onsite carbon removal project by allocating 285-hectares to preserve and maintain biodiversity on site.
Alongside its net zero push, the airport has committed to using 50 per cent recycled water and sending zero waste to landfill by 2030.
The jumbo in the hangar on airport net zero claims
The elephant in the room – or should that be the jumbo jet in the hangar – for the aviation industry when it comes to net zero commitments, is scope three emissions.
Scope three includes emissions from across the supply chain, including from transport and distribution. For airports, that includes air travel, which is estimated to make up around 2.1 per cent of all human-induced carbon emissions.
Getting these scope three emissions down remains a massive and ongoing challenge for the aviation industry.
To its credit, BAC is a part of a number of industry-wide initiatives to reduce aviation emissions. They include the Clean Skies for Tomorrow initiative, which aims to increase the supply and use of sustainable aviation fuel to 10 per cent by 2030.
The airport is a signatory for the Mission Possible Partnership Aviation Transition Strategy, which is working to reduce emissions across the aviation supply chain.