On 18 October 2024, a final conference of the project “Electrification and Greening of Aircraft Ground Handling Systems and Electric Aircraft Power Supply” was held at Zadar Airport. The project is co-financed by the European Union under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan 2021–2026.
The total value of the project amounts to €16,330,740.41, with eligible costs of €12,830,602.02, of which €9,279,967.08 represents non-repayable funding. The project implementation period ran from 1 October 2021 to 31 October 2024, of which 14 months were dedicated to procurement procedures for environmentally friendly equipment, execution of works related to fixed electrical connections, and the installation of a photovoltaic power plant. The project is co-financed by the European Union under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan 2021–2026. The project is aimed at significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving environmental standards in air transport, and Zadar Airport has become one of the first airports in Croatia to implement such technologies.
The conference was opened by the Director of Zadar Airport, Josip Klišmanić, who expressed satisfaction with the implementation of the project and emphasized its importance for the future of sustainable development of air transport. In addition, representatives of local and national authorities addressed the audience, including Božidar Longin, Prefect of Zadar County; Josip Bilaver, State Secretary at the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure; Dr. Zvonimir Savić, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia for economic affairs; and Darko Kasap, Head of the Department for Spatial Planning and Construction of the City of Zadar.
Darko Kasap stated that it was his honor to welcome the gathered guests on behalf of the Mayor and the departments of the City of Zadar, especially at a moment when one valuable project is being completed, marking only the beginning of further development of Zadar Airport.
“Environmental protection, CO₂ emission reduction and energy efficiency are issues we wake up with every morning and go to bed with every evening. The City of Zadar is working intensively on these issues, and this project represents a major step forward in terms of a green airport. I would like to congratulate Director Klišmanić, all associates and the entire team,” Kasap emphasized.
Josip Bilaver, State Secretary at the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, also highlighted the success and importance of this project.
“This is just one in a series of projects implemented in the area of Zadar County; from investments in the Port of Zadar and Gaženica, the selection of a new concessionaire, to the expected start of the railway reconstruction in the coming days. By the end of this year or the beginning of next year, we expect to obtain a location permit for relocating the railway line in Sukošan and Bibinje, as well as a series of projects being developed in the City of Zadar, such as the procurement of new buses. Investments in our ports contribute to the image of Zadar County and this part of Croatia as an area we can truly be proud of and fully integrated not only into the transport system of the Republic of Croatia, but also into the transport system of the entire European Union.”
Božidar Longin, Prefect of Zadar County, emphasized:
“What makes me particularly happy is that we are here today to conclude this chapter of Zadar Airport and turn a new page. I hope that in a year’s time we will return for the ribbon-cutting of the new terminal and everything we are talking about. I am truly delighted and would like to congratulate everyone who has invested a part of themselves in this project.”
Zvonimir Savić, Adviser to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, emphasized that Croatia is the only EU country that has fully met all planned reforms and investments within the agreed deadlines.
“In response to the pandemic in 2020, the European Commission created an entirely new mechanism, the Recovery and Resilience Facility, worth €648 billion, made available to EU Member States to stimulate economic recovery through reforms and investments. Within this mechanism, the Government negotiated €10 billion to finance reforms and investments under the Recovery and Resilience Plan. To date, Croatia has received a total of €4.5 billion since September 2021. The most recent payment, made in July, amounted to €822 million, the largest single payment since Croatia became an EU Member State,” Savić noted.
Participants, including Dragan Jelić, Director of SAFU, attended a project presentation during which key technical aspects and project results were presented. The key result of the project is the successful implementation of an electrified and environmentally friendly aircraft ground handling system at Zadar Airport. Fixed electrical connections for aircraft power supply were installed, along with the necessary adaptation of the main apron: 10 fixed Ground Power Unit (GPU) connections were installed, single-row aircraft parking was arranged while maintaining 10 parking positions, and diesel-powered generators were replaced by electric power supplied through underground connections.
Diesel-powered equipment used for aircraft ground handling was replaced with environmentally friendly equipment: an electric aircraft pushback vehicle, a remote-controlled electric pushback vehicle, five electric baggage tractors, electrically powered self-propelled passenger stairs, and a passenger bus for transport to and from aircraft were procured. In addition, a photovoltaic power plant with a capacity of 610.56 kW was constructed, to which the fixed aircraft power supply connections (GPU) are connected, thereby increasing energy efficiency and sustainability of the electrically powered ground handling system and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on conventional energy sources.
During the presentation, Director Klišmanić emphasized that the electrification of aircraft ground handling systems and electric aircraft power supply will reduce dependence on fossil fuels and enable Zadar Airport to meet the highest environmental standards. This project represents the first step toward achieving the long-term goal of creating the first energy-independent airport.
As part of the conference, participants toured the airport’s infrastructure facilities, including the newly installed aircraft electric power supply systems, allowing them to see the achievements of this innovative project firsthand.
At the end of the conference, participants had the opportunity to exchange opinions and experiences in an informal setting.
The project represents a significant step toward sustainable air transport and contributes to achieving the European Union’s goals in terms of climate neutrality and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
The project is co-financed by the European Union under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan 2021–2026.
The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of Zadar Airport.
