The Shannon Airport Group Annual Report and Accounts 2024

Annual Report and Accounts | 2024

BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE SHANNON CAMPUS

We have continued with our fleet electrification plans and have transitioned over 50% of our vehicles that are suitable for electrification. As part of our circular economy ambitions, we reduced waste by 10% in 2024 compared to 2023, with 44% of our waste by volume (excluding sewage sludge) sent for recycling, improving from 34% in 2023. Initiatives included installing dual- stream solar-powered compactor bins with smart capacity sensors in airport car parks and external terminal areas, the upgrading of signage in all waste compounds, and ongoing training of staff and cleaning contractors. In addition to these initiatives, we refurbished IT equipment and office furniture, donating them to a local secondary school. We also repurposed several hundred old airport security trays, donating them to a local garden centre and nearby allotments, reinforcing our commitment to the circular economy. To further enhance our sustainability efforts, we continued our water conservation programme, and were supported by Government to undertake supply network upgrade works at the airport.

The Programme for Government also calls for the development of a National Sustainable Aviation Fuel Policy Roadmap and support of Shannon Airport as a hub for testing new aviation technology. As a member of the National Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) taskforce, we are actively involved in helping to develop a National Policy Roadmap for SAF. We have a rich history of innovation at Shannon and the region boasts one of the largest aviation clusters in Ireland. We welcome the opportunity for Shannon to be supported as a hub for testing new aviation technologies.

In 2024, we continued our mission to build a sustainable Shannon Campus by transforming our commercial properties in the Shannon Airport Business Park. We focused on bringing forward high- quality, energy-efficient property solutions for our clients. As part of this, we have begun planning and designing two new state-of-the- art industrial buildings to enhance our commercial property portfolio. These buildings will meet the highest energy efficiency standards and be constructed using materials with lower embodied carbon. To support the low carbon transition, we collaborated with ESB to showcase Ireland’s first hydrogen fuel cell-powered backup generator at our Shannon Airport Business Park. Over 80 attendees from industry, academia, and government toured the fuel cell, hosted by GeoPura (Technology Provider) and ESB.

We welcome the government’s commitment in their Programme for Government to progressing the Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce recommendations, which are crucial for renewable energy planning. Our CEO, a member of the Taskforce, actively supports the implementation of these measures.