Decarbonising Manchester Airport through Bioenergy

This project will develop methodologies for analysing the GHG and resource footprints of large single site operations such as airports. The aim will be to explore how these sites may be decarbonised, for example through using the wastes generated through day to day activities to generate low carbon bioenergy and/ or biofuels. In the first instance this project will focus on evaluating options for decarbonising Manchester Airport, with opportunities to work closely with local Government and Industry partners. Greater Manchester aims to be carbon neutral by 2038. One of the largest emitters in the region is Manchester Airport, which annually handles over 200,000 flights, from 28 million passengers and more than 117,000 tonnes of freight. Quantifying and subsequently reducing the carbon footprint of Manchester Airport is a key component of the goal of carbon neutral Manchester.
As with all large organisations, Manchester Airport and its associated partners operate many supply chains that provide the airport with all the resources and materials required to maintain operation. From these supply chains and through the day to day operation of the airport many different forms of wastes are generated - through applying bioenergy technologies these materials may provide opportunities to decarbonise the airport and aviation.
The use of wastes for bioenergy will reduce the volumes of materials sent to landfill, whilst the generated bioenergy may replace fossil fuel alternatives - both providing a mechanism for the airport to reduce its carbon footprint. Where anaerobic digestion bioenergy technologies are used there would also be the generation of digestate materials that may be used as a alternative fertiliser that could provide further environmental benefits and an addition revenue stream for the airport.
The initial focus of this project will be on Manchester Airport; later stages of the project will investigate the potential for deploying bioenergy technologies for similar organisations across the UK and around the world. For example the developing world has less reliable energy systems and a secondary source of energy for major organisations such as airports will increase resilience to shocks like weather events driven by the change climate.
Working with Manchester Airport analyses will be undertaken to evaluate the airport's footprint, both the: supply chains, materials and resources required to keep the airport running, and; the GHG emissions footprint of airports operations, including its supply chains.
Analyse the types and quantities of waste and residue materials generated by Manchester Airport, both through its supply chains and direct operations. Evaluate the current waste management practices for each of these wastes and analyse the potential for their alternative use within bioenergy applications.
Working with industry partner C3 BIOTECH, undertake techno-economic (TEA) and lifecycle assessment (LCA) analyses to evaluate the suitability of different bioenergy technologies that could be deployed to generate bioenergy and fuels to reduce the GHG footprint of the airport.
Working with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority's 'Carbon Neutral 2038 Team', analyse the contribution of the airport's emissions to their carbon budgets, and provide scenarios for how this may be reduced through deployment of bioenergy technologies at the airport.
The processes and analysis steps developed through this research project will be brought together as a single 'Manchester Methodology', and opportunities will be sought to replicate the project focusing on different airports and large organisations both in the UK and internationally.
Applying this methodology, analyse the types and quantities of wastes present in a developing world site such as an airport, university or rural village to define the relative benefits of deploying a bioenergy technologies such as anaerobic digesters.