Christchurch Airport Wins Global Sustainability Award for Kōwhai Park Solar Initiative and Net Zero Leadership

(IN SHORT) Christchurch Airport has received the Platinum Award in ACI’s Green Airports Recognition 2025, one of only four airports globally to achieve the highest honour. The award celebrates the airport’s sustainability leadership, particularly the development of Kōwhai Park — a 300,000-panel solar farm that will power 36,000 homes and act as a clean energy hub for the region. Recognised initiatives also include a hydrogen test facility, fully electric fire truck, Level 5 Airport Carbon Accreditation, and wildlife protection programs. The airport continues to set new benchmarks for environmental innovation and sustainable aviation on a global scale.

(PRESS RELEASE) CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, 2025-Jun-9 — /Travel PR News/ — Christchurch Airport has been named the Platinum Category Winner of the Airports Council International (ACI) Green Airports Recognition 2025, celebrating its global leadership in sustainability through its flagship clean energy initiative, Kōwhai Park. The airport is one of only four in the world to receive this prestigious platinum recognition, which highlights excellence in environmental innovation and sustainable airport practices.

At the heart of this accolade is Kōwhai Park — a groundbreaking solar farm currently under construction on the airport campus — developed in partnership with Contact Energy and Lightsource bp. Spanning 230 hectares and featuring 300,000 solar panels, the project is expected to generate enough clean electricity to power the equivalent of 36,000 homes, positioning it as a cornerstone in the airport’s vision to build a regional clean energy hub supporting aviation and industrial decarbonisation.

“Kōwhai Park shows what’s possible when you combine vision with the right partners,” said Justin Watson, Chief Executive of Christchurch Airport. “Contact Energy and Lightsource bp bring world-class expertise, and this partnership is creating something we can all be proud of.”

Construction has officially begun, with the first foundations now being placed. The solar farm’s initial stage lays the groundwork for future renewable initiatives, including green hydrogen and energy storage technologies, further strengthening Christchurch Airport’s leadership in climate action.

In addition to Kōwhai Park, the ACI award also recognises the airport’s broader sustainability initiatives:

• Level 5 ACA Accreditation: Christchurch Airport remains the only airport in the Southern Hemisphere with the highest level of Airport Carbon Accreditation.
• Electrifying Emergency Response: The arrival of New Zealand’s first fully electric fire truck demonstrates how even critical services can transition to clean power.
• Sustainable Mobility: New high-efficiency EV charging stations now serve electric ground support vehicles used for luggage handling and aircraft towing.
• Hydrogen Innovation: A world-first hydrogen test facility has been established at Kōwhai Park in partnership with Fabrum to advance green hydrogen applications.
• Cleaner Aircraft Turnaround: 13 of 15 aircraft gates are now equipped with electric power units, reducing diesel use and improving air quality.
• Circular Resource Recovery: An award-winning waste sorting station in the domestic terminal has cut landfill waste through smarter design and operations.
• EV Leadership: The airport boasts the South Island’s largest EV charging hub and operates an entirely electric corporate fleet.
• Biodiversity Conservation: Over 500 native lizards were relocated from the solar construction site to a protected habitat with 20,000 native plantings.
• Bird Protection: At-risk bird eggs from airside areas are safely incubated and released, aiding species such as the Banded Dotterel and Pied Oystercatcher.
• Global Impact: Sustainable Transition Leader Claire Waghorn shared the airport’s sustainability model with 800+ delegates at the ACI World General Assembly in Riyadh.

“This award is a powerful affirmation of the meaningful progress we’re making,” said Claire Waghorn. “We’re proving that sustainability and safety go hand in hand, and we’re proud to be setting a new standard in sustainable aviation.”

As Christchurch Airport continues to push the boundaries of environmental responsibility, the ACI recognition reinforces its commitment to a future where climate leadership, community benefit, and clean energy are central to airport operations and development.

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SOURCE: Christchurch International Airport