Bristol Airport Invests £10 Million in Low Carbon Energy Centre to Replace Terminal Gas Boilers

(IN SHORT) Bristol Airport is investing £10 million in a new low-carbon energy centre that will replace gas boilers in its terminal buildings with a large-scale air source heat pump system. The project forms part of the airport’s plan to achieve net-zero operations by 2030 and is expected to reduce annual emissions by approximately 625 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. The energy centre will generate and distribute heating and cooling across the terminal and future expansions while significantly lowering the airport’s operational carbon footprint. The initiative complements Bristol Airport’s broader sustainability strategy, which includes the Aviation Carbon Transition programme supporting decarbonisation technologies and a new waste sorting system that has already increased recycling rates beyond its 2026 target. Additional improvements, including upgraded cycling facilities and new pedestrian routes, are also being introduced as part of the airport’s environmental and infrastructure development efforts.

(PRESS RELEASE) BRISTOL, UK, 2026-Mar-16 — /Travel PR News/ — Bristol Airport has announced a £10 million investment to build a new low-carbon energy centre that will eliminate gas boilers from its main terminal complex, marking a major step in the airport’s strategy to achieve net-zero operations.

The new facility will generate, store and distribute low-carbon energy to heat and cool the airport’s main terminal buildings as well as future terminal extensions. The project supports Bristol Airport’s commitment to reaching net-zero operational emissions by 2030 and places the airport among the first in the United Kingdom working to remove gas-based heating systems from terminal operations.

The energy centre will replace conventional gas boilers with a large-scale system based on air source heat pump technology. The installation will include 22 heat pumps supported by one electric boiler, creating a highly efficient system designed to meet the airport’s heating and cooling requirements.

Once operational, the system is expected to reduce emissions by approximately 625 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent each year. This reduction is comparable to removing about 135 passenger vehicles from the road annually or offsetting the typical energy consumption of around 77 homes.

Gas currently accounts for approximately 45 percent of the airport’s Scope 1 emissions, which represent emissions directly produced by Bristol Airport’s own operations. When combined with electricity consumption, these emissions form roughly 17 percent of the airport’s overall operational carbon footprint.

Hannah Pollard said the project represents a major milestone in the airport’s environmental strategy. She noted that reducing emissions from buildings is one of the three core priorities in Bristol Airport’s path toward net-zero operations, alongside the transition to electric vehicles and expanded investment in renewable energy.

The airport launched its sustainability strategy three years ago and established an interim target to reduce emissions by 73 percent by 2027 compared with pre-pandemic levels recorded in 2019. Several airport facilities already use heat pump technology, including Lulsgate House, Aviation House, the Silver Zone car park reception, the car rental building and the air traffic control tower.

Construction of the new energy centre will begin in the spring. The project includes the installation of underground energy distribution pipes connecting the energy centre to the terminal basement. The modular components will be built off-site and installed near the Hampton by Hilton Bristol Airport during the autumn, with completion expected before the winter season.

The investment is also linked to the airport’s wider environmental initiatives, including its Aviation Carbon Transition (ACT) programme. This initiative provides financial support for technologies that could help reduce emissions across the aviation sector, particularly those associated with Scope 3 emissions such as aircraft operations and transport to and from the airport.

The ACT programme distributes annual grants totalling £150,000 to organisations developing solutions aimed at accelerating the aviation industry’s transition toward zero-carbon flight.

Bristol Airport has also introduced several operational sustainability measures. Last year it established a waste sortation centre within the terminal where waste is manually separated to maximise recycling and minimise landfill disposal. The airport set a recycling target of 70 percent by 2026 and has already reached 74 percent.

As part of the energy centre development, the airport has also improved its cycling facilities. A new bicycle parking area has been created between the two multi-storey car parks, increasing capacity by 25 percent and providing sheltered, well-lit storage monitored by CCTV. The upgraded facility also includes maintenance equipment to support cyclists.

Cyclists can currently access the parking area through the short-stay car park and follow a signposted route toward the northern side of multi-storey car park 1. A new walking and cycling path linking the airport with the nearby A38 road will also be developed as part of future infrastructure improvements.

Media contact:
pressoffice@bristolairport.com

SOURCE: Bristol Airport