One Step Off The Grid
Summary
Pittsburgh International Airport has become the first airport in the world to be completely powered by an onsite natural gas and solar microgrid, serving to increase the airport’s resilience and reliability by isolating it from potential power grid outages.
The first-of-its-kind microgrid combines more than 20MW worth of electricity generated by nearly 10,000 solar panels and five natural gas-fuelled generators utilising the onsite Marcellus Shale gas wells – the equivalent electricity necessary to power 13,000 residential homes.
Supplying electricity to the entire airport, including terminals and airfield, as well as the Hyatt hotel and Sunoco gas station – which at its current peak yields demand of approximately 14MW – the newly unveiled microgrid will help shield Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) from any potential power outages that have, in the past, resulted in the cancellation of thousands of flights.
The microgrid also serves as an important long-term benefit as PIT moves towards building what it is calling “the smartest airport in the world” in the form of its new terminal project.
“Pittsburgh International Airport is now one of the most site-hardened public facilities in the world while at the same time becoming more sustainable,” said Christina Cassotis, Pittsburgh International Airport CEO. “That’s a tribute to the innovative culture of our team, and we hope this project can be a model across the industry.”
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